How long does it take to no longer be sick of a game after completing it five times in a row? Apparently a little over five years! Welcome to the 2.0 version of my guide to Tales of Symphonia. The content won't be changing much, just edits to polish up here and there, fix the few errors that squeaked through, and maybe explain a few things earlier on. What is going to be changing is that I am going to be adding links to video clips (and maybe pictures) as I am going to test this walkthrough by playing through the game myself and posting it on my (tiny) YouTube channel.

Before I head into it, I want to thank everyone who has used this guide over the past five years, especially those who took the time to upvote, comment, and generally make me feel like it wasn't just a waste of time. I know this update is long overdue, and sorry about that, I just really had no desire to touch the game again anytime soon after about three hundred hours in a row!

I wrote this guide because I found myself with literally a dozen different tabs open when I was playing this game. This is the kind of walkthrough I wanted to have: one that outlined how to earn everything as you go, rather than one with all the side stuff in another section at the end. If such a guide already exists, I didn’t see it, and maybe I wasted a bunch of effort. It's my first guide ever, so yay for me?

I present to you now a second, hopefully more polished draft. I assume you already know the basics of how to play. If I missed anything, or you spot an error, please let me know. Maybe I will get around to it when another five years have passed (kidding... probably). Oh, and I am not planning to add stuff like a full bestiary, details on figurines, etc. That kind of stuff wouldn't fit organically into the walkthrough, would just end up being appendices at the end, and therefore you might as well open another tab to reference one of the many existing guides out there when you need them. This walkthrough will reduce the number of tabs you need open to a few, not necessarily just one.

I don’t care if you rip this off, I didn’t do it for recognition anyway. You’ll be something I can’t say in a public forum if you do, but I’m not going to make any empty legal threats about it.

Extra special super thanks to all the authors of the various FAQs I referenced to get me through the game the five or six times it has taken me to compile and earn everything: Kratos15254, Phaelin7, Franklin WI, seorin, r_mage, DarthMarth, A l e x, and Dreamwalker.

One last thing before I get started: a hugely useful tool, especially if you missed a treasure chest and are sitting at 99.6% completion, check out http://rngeoff.com/SymphoniaSaveViewer/Home/. Save files are generally located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[USERID]\372360\remote, even if you installed the game on a different drive (very sneaky, Steam).

I also remember that I used Cheat Engine to speed up the game during long grinding sessions. Not to actually cheat, so if you want advice on that you'll have to look elsewhere, just to save myself a little time and sanity. I will likely do the same in my replay (though note that I do NOT plan to play through five times to earn everything again!).

And now, a few months after starting to update, I find myself going back and revising things yet again. Thank the relentless comments from user kilicool64 for pointing out all the little things that I missed that, while not strictly necessary, should probably be included in a walkthrough that claims to be about completion. Sigh. *Cracks knuckles*. Let's do this.

I really suggest, for your first playthrough, not to bother with any of the special challenge titles. For later playthroughs, however, you will want to plan ahead for what you want to accomplish, usually based on what titles you want to earn. A lot of titles will come naturally with story progression, side quests, simple battle achievements, etc, so you will likely earn a good number of them just playing through the first time naturally, especially if you use this guide to make sure you don't miss anything. The subsequent playthroughs involve picking specific titles you still need to earn, buying specific Grade abilities to help earn them, and then playing through with the requirements for your target titles in mind. (Grade is a special currency you earn based on your performance in combat. It can be spent with a couple merchants in the game, but its main use is in the Grade Shop that is accessed when starting New Game+ to buy things like carrying over elements from your previous playthrough, leveling more or less quickly, or starting with extra hp or items.)

I won't list all the possible titles and how to earn them here (I will point out opportunities to earn them throughout the walkthrough), as it would not mean much to those starting out and there are plenty of good guides out there specifically for titles that I would suggest checking out. That said, I will go over the major points and systems that necessitate multiple playthroughs.

Affection is the main mechanic that you will have to manipulate in order to get specific events to fire the way you need them to in order to earn specific titles. Every party member other than Lloyd has an affection score that will change throughout the game based on decisions you make. I note throughout the guide when affection can be earned (or lost) and by how much, so if you are keeping track go ahead and grab your notepad and calculator. (The SaveViewer I linked above can be used to look at your current affection levels as well, in case you lose track). If you're not bothering to keep track and just roleplaying the easiest character to get to high affection levels is Colette.

The primary turning point in the game for titles is called the Flanoir Doctor Event. During this event the three party members with the highest total affection levels will be available, from which you must choose one with whom you will have a special scene, sometimes earning a title and even a unique item. This scene is THE reason the game needs five playthroughs (or four with save manipulation if all you care about is the achievement, not having all titles at once). If you want to 100% you will need to pick Colette, Genis, Regal, Zelos, and Kratos once each. Remember, to choose them for the FDE they only need to be in the top three, not necessarily the highest affection.

There are two events that award extra costumes (needed for titles) and will require multiple playthroughs and a bit of affection tracking. There is the Formal Dinner event which happens late game after completing a side quest. Lloyd will always get his costume and then you pick three others who will also gain theirs. Since every party member other than Kratos needs one, that means you won't have them all until the third playthrough. The other is the Beach Party which works similarly, except that you only get to choose one party member and the other two will be the two party members with the highest affection. Again, Lloyd is automatic and Kratos does not have one, so a minimum of three playthroughs will be necessary, but watch those affection levels and plan accordingly!

The Completion titles are rather self-explanatory: collect all the items, fight all the monsters, master all the recipes, etc. These will, surprise surprise, take multiple playthroughs, but if you follow the guide they should eventually come naturally. There are two that need to be done in a single playthrough and moreover are missable (within a playthrough, not overall) so use the guide and maybe keep a checklist. These are speaking to every dog in the game as Colette (when I say as a character I mean you need to make that character the "lead", aka their avatar is used when moving around the map), and flirting with all the women as Zelos. That handy save viewer can once again help if you lose track, but if you miss one that was only available for a limited time and don't have a backup save there will be nothing to do but be more diligent in the next playthrough!

And finally there are the challenge titles that pretty much require you to go into the playthrough with them in mind and fulfill certain requirements until a specific boss battle (the character in question must be in the party during said battle to gain the title). There is one for never running away (Lloyd), one for never changing Lloyd's starting weapon (Lloyd), one for never letting any party member fall (Colette), one for never using any gel healing items in battle (Genis), and one wherein the four characters in the active party when fighting the boss must have no more than 145 levels summed between them (Lloyd). If I recall correctly I took care of the first four during my first playthrough and the last during my second using Grade to influence leveling speed, but would suggest most people spread them out during their second-fifth instead.

*Iselia, Classroom*

Our protagonist, Lloyd, is woken up in class. After the Professor leaves the room, you gain control for the first time. Take a minute to access your Settings and adjust them to your liking; the only one that will really affect gameplay is difficulty. If this is your first time through, I suggest keeping it on normal. Yes, there are achievements for beating the game on Hard and Mania, but you’ll need to go through the game almost three times anyway to finish your Collector’s Book, so you may as well make it one at each difficulty. And of course if you are going for 100% completion you will need even more than that...

Chat with your fellow classmates if you like, then try to head out the door to the west. You’ll be stopped by Genis, and gain your first opportunity to adjust your Affection levels.

# “It’s research!”: Genis+120, or “Okay, fine.”: no change #

Story-wise it doesn’t make much difference, as either way Colette and Genis end up joining you and it is off to the Temple of Martel. If you chose “Okay, fine” there is another chance to gain Affection; if not, you’ll still get this chance once you reach the Temple:

# ”I’m going too.”: Colette+120, Genis+60, or “I’ll wait for you.”: Genis-60, Raine+60

Again, no difference other than for Affection. Once you have all three characters and are in control, I like to set my auto-battle strategies. For Lloyd I set his default to Attack Freely, Retain, and Frontlines; for Colette Attack Freely, Retain, and Move Freely; and Genis Attack Freely, Save, and L-Range Magic. I then set two of the Orders, Reserve and All Out. I never bother with the third. For Reserve, I just set everyone’s move to Hold Position; this is used when I need everyone to do nothing but guard while I manually do something like steal. Sometimes I edit this to have Raine still heal if the stealing target is particularly dangerous. All Out is the Boss Mode: Everyone set to Attack Same and At Once, while using the same move mode as the default (Frontlines, Move Freely, and L-Range Magic for Lloyd, Colette, and Genis, respectively).

That bit of logistics done, make sure to inspect the hole on the left side of the north wall for Colette’s first Title, Klutz!

! Colette: Klutz (Hp+1, Str+1, Acc+1) !
Might as well assign it to her since it has some bonuses, as opposed to her default which has none.

Somewhere during this we will get our very first skit, It'll Be Fine. 99% of skits don't actually affect anything, but they showcase the characters' personalities and add fun little bits to the story! Also talk to the kid in the middle left part of the room to receive a Magic Lens. It's only worth 10 gald, but hey, free is free. Finally, we are ready to leave the school. Onward!

^ It'll Be Fine ^

*Iselia*
After a quick chat with Colette’s dad, who is totally cool with teenagers rushing off into danger, I suggest you visit the store. Go directly south from the glowing circle (Memory Circle, for saving your game) into the next screen, and enter the first building on the left.

$Halo-Iselia$
Apple Gel – 100
Orange Gel – 200
Life Bottle – 300
Magic Lens – 10
Wooden Blade – 700
Chakram – 200
Nova – 600
Soft Leather – 480
Boots – 100
Chicken – 120
Lettuce – 80
Tomato – 60
Bread – 70
Egg – 50

You start off with 500 Gald, and I see no reason to hold onto it. I suggest buying 2 pairs of Boots for that little early game defense boost, 9 Magic Lenses for identifying monsters (don’t bother if you don’t care about the Monster Book containing all the details; I’m a perfectionist, so I want them!), and save the rest for a rainy day. Make sure to equip those Boots on whoever you think could use the defense. You can even equip two pairs to the same character!

Shopping done, it’s time to continue on to the temple. Go ahead and hit that Memory Circle to save, then head out the northern exit, but wait, what is this? Our first enemies! Whup a zombie, followed by a zombie and a ghost. If you end up particularly hurt after the first fight, feel free to whip up a sandwich to heal a bit of HP. After the second fight, head east to the next screen, enter the big building on the right, and speak to Colette’s dad again for free healing. Then back to the MC, save, and north out of town, for real this time.

*Overworld*
Okay, we’re on the Overworld map for the first time. There are two kinds of enemy blobs that will run around, and if you touch either one, a fight ensues. The slug-like blobs lead to smaller fights, while the ones with legs cause bigger ones, or fights with tougher creatures. Also, where you encounter them determines from which list the enemies will be drawn: there are different lists depending on if you are on the road, on grassland, in forests, or on the beach. In this little stretch between Iselia and the Temple, there is only grassland, and you can encounter the following enemies:

& Grass: 125. Giant Bee, 112. Hawk, 022. Rabbit, 018. Wolf &

You will also get a skit almost right away.

^ What's the Temple Like? ^

It might not be a bad idea to get in some fights now, since you have unlimited healing from Colette’s dad. Earning some gald, a few levels, and getting a Rabbit to drop a Beast Hide would not go amiss. Also, you can easily earn a few titles to help your stats when you level. Alternatively, you will be gaining another party member after a quick boss fight in the Temple of Martel area, so you might want to hold off and do your grinding after he joins. Note that the boss is not that hard and can definitely be defeated right away.

! Lloyd: Tetra Slash (Hp+2, Str+2) A bit tricky for someone not yet used to the battle system, just perform a combo with three different types of attack followed by a tech. I run forward and attack while still holding forward, then release the stick and perform a neutral attack, then hold down and attack, and finish off with a Demon Fang. It may take a few tries, but it’s worth it to give Lloyd some early levelling bonuses. (Playing again after all this time I gotta say: this is hard! Mostly due to the sluggishness of the controls; this is definitely not like doing a combo in a fighting game! Still, keep at it, try different attack variations to find what feels most comfortable for you, and eventually you should get it.)

Lloyd: Boorish General (TP+1, Int+3) I used to suggest getting this one later, but realized it is even easier to earn right now. Set Lloyd's command shortcuts (the bottom two in his tech list) to techs from other characters, for instance Genis' fireball, then just spam them during a fight. You need to issue at least ten commands.

ONLY IF YOU ARE NOT GOING FOR Colette's Friendship First title during this run (thus requiring you to not let any character fall):
Lloyd: Lone General (Def+2, Eva+3) You have to have at least three party members (including Lloyd) and get everyone but Lloyd knocked out. Once he is alone, change orders (aka change to Reserve, All Out, etc; the stuff we set up at the beginning). Issue four commands then end the fight to pick this one up.

Colette: Don’t Run (TP+1, Eva+1) Switch control to Colette and just finish a battle without moving. You can still attack, just don’t move.

Colette: Self-Control (Def+1, Int+1) Control Colette throughout a battle and just don’t use any techs. Easy Peesy.

Genis: Dependent (Str+1, Def+1) Control Genis and just... do nothing. Don’t attack, don’t cast, don’t move, don’t take damage, just let Lloyd and Colette handle the enemies. Might take a couple tries if enemies annoyingly hit you. !

Remember that a given character can only earn one title per battle, so it would do no good to have Colette neither move nor use techs in the same battle. Just do ‘em consecutively, they’re not hard.

Once you’ve fought and earned to your liking, feel free to heal up, save, and enter that Temple!

*Temple of Martel*

Ascend the stairs, maybe doing the Affection event outlined above, and when you reach the top get ready for an odd confrontation followed by a pair of fights. The first one is an easy bout against a pair of Foot Soldiers, but then we have the game’s first Boss!

& 101. Foot Soldier, 220. Vidarr

BOSS: Vidarr
HP: 4000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
This guy is big, slow, and stupid. His attacks are well-telegraphed, so just run or jump back out of the way, or block them, then rush in and counter-attack. Make sure you use a Magic Lens on him if you care about having his stats in your Monster Book, as this is the only time you’ll face him until New Game+. Part-way through you will be joined by a mysterious stranger who changes this fight from easy to laughable, as he can heal you if you screw up the timing and take significant damage. It is also very easy to time your attacks to coincide with one of Genis’ fireballs and the strangers combos to rack up 10 hits and thus earning Lloyd’s Combo Newbie title.

! Lloyd: Combo Newbie (Str+3, Acc+2) !

After the fight there is another Affection event for your new pal, Kratos (whose English voice you may recognize as Cam Clarke, aka. Leonardo from the original TMNT cartoon!):

# “What did you say?!”: Kratos-60, or “Gotcha.” Kratos+60 # (According to the guide I am using for skits, several early ones require Kratos to have the highest affection in the party to trigger, so if you want to see as many as possible start getting him positive right away since Colette has a 500 point head start! Or save 'em for another playthrough, that works too. There are no titles or achievements for seeing all the skits, so you can also always just watch 'em on YouTube...)

You then automatically enter the Temple and Kratos gives you your first Key Item, the TRAINING MANUAL. If you use this in your inventory you can read over various tips about combat. Now, easy as it was, the boss fight might have left you less than topped up on HP and TP, so feel free to race back to town to have Colette’s dad restore you, save, and come on back. I’ll wait. Also, don’t forget to set Kratos’ strategies. I usually set his identical to Lloyd’s, but if you want him to make use of his magic you can set it like Genis’ instead. Or just leave it alone and he will use a variety; the most important one is healing!

I should mention you can get a title for Kratos called Tetra Slash, obtained in exactly the same manner as Lloyd’s title of the same name and with the same stat bonuses. You might have put off the earlier title hunting until now to make it a bit easier, or just need to nab this one. Either way, it is just as annoying as getting it for Lloyd except that hopefully you are a bit more accustomed to the battle controls now and therefore get it quicker.

! Kratos: Tetra Slash (Hp+2, Str+2) !

Enemies you can encounter within the Temple are as follows:

& 050. Ghost, 059. Golem, 158. Slime, 135. Spider, 037. Zombie &

Straight north is a sealed door for which you need the Sorcerer’s Ring. To the west is an enemy and a dead end. East it is! There are three enemy groups, then take the stairs down. You’ll see the Sorcerer’s ring floating there, taunting you, and then automatically get into a fight with a Golem. Not too tough, use pretty much the same tactics as with Vidarr. Once it is defeated it turns into a block and Colette accidentally pushes it down a hole where it fills a gap down below. Give you any ideas? When the Golem respawns, kill it again and push it down the opposite hole Colette did (right column, center row). Keep in mind you can pull blocks in this game as well as push them! Kill another one and drop it down either the one you just used or the one Colette did. Now descend the southern staircase on the side opposite whichever side you dropped your latest block, note the MC for saving nearby, and go north and around to push the block into another gap, clearing your way to an enemy and your first treasure chest! Since you have to get every single chest in the game for a title, we’ll be keeping track of those. Go kill another golem and do the exact same thing you just did on the other side for the other chest.

@ Chest 1: Panacea Bottle, Chest 2: Life Bottle @

That bit of looting done, it is now time to do the exact same thing again! This time send the ex-Golems down the center column, top row, and push ‘em north to create a bridge (it will take two blocks) to your next key item and all around super useful utility, the Sorcerer’s Ring. For now it shoots little fireballs which you can use in dungeons to stun enemy groups and give you time to go around them if you don’t feel like fighting. Now get thee back up to the level with the Golems, but this time go up the northwest stairway.

Here you will find two more enemy groups and three treasure chests:

@ Chest 3: Apple Gel, Chest 4: Life Bottle, Chest 5: 250 Gald @

Back down the stairs, then up the righthand set, back south and around, then north back through the sealed door (hit it with a blast of sorcerer’s fire to open it up). There will be lots of exposition, and when you have control again you get another chance for affection:

# First (and only first) character talked to: +60; or ignore them all and just warp away #

There are three skits that can pop up now. I think they can happen anywhere between here and Iselia, and probably even IN Iselia, but just in case I waited around in this room until all three appeared.

^ Lloyd's Thoughts on Angels, Do I Have To?, The Oracle. ^

On your way out you get a scene with an angry Professor Raine (violence is funny!) and Lloyd and Genis make their way back to Iselia alone. There is another skit in the overworld on the way back.

^ The Journey. ^

*Iselia*
Once there, go to Colette’s house to receive the COLLECTOR’S BOOK, which you can reference at any time to find out which items you have had in your possession at any time, as well as the completion percentages for each category (consumables, weapons, body armor, head armor, arm armor, accessories, and key items). Also you can run upstairs and check out a bookshelf for a quick bit of lore/scene with Lloyd and Genis. At any point after you leave here while running around Iselia you'll get another skit. Afterwards, head back to the school beside the MC for a quick scene and Genis’ Brotherly Love title.

^ Sole Redeeming Feature ^

! Genis: Brotherly Love (HP+1, Def+1) !

Next head SW to the next screen and enter the first house you see on the left, the one with the dog out front. Within you will be given a chance for a brief tutorial on cooking, and receive 3 Beef, 3 Bread, and 3 Lettuce. Sandwich fixin’s! Also another book scene by checking out the case on the left side of the house. Head SE outside and you’ll see the shop just north of you; if you think you would like to purchase any more supplies before heading out, have at. Either way go left and around the shop to get back to the more northerly screen but this time at a higher level. Run up between the trellises and speak with the man here to receive free Grapes! When ready, head SW to meet Noishe, your faithful dog(?) and exit the town.

*Overworld*
Out here we have the same general monsters we’ve met before, plus the forests now contain several monsters from the Temple of Martel, as well as the new ones Minicoid and Tentacle Plant. Watch out for poison if you decide to go exploring! At this point, though, you should really just head due west and enter Iselia Forest. If you really want to see ALL possible skits, head south instead until you get stopped by Through the Forest, the game's way of telling you that you can't go this way yet.

^ Through the Forest^

*Iselia Forest*
Enemies you encounter within the Forest are as follows:

& 125. Giant Bee, 112. Hawk, 004. Minicoid, 022. Rabbit, 158. Slime, 135. Spider, 018. Wolf &

Head east up the hill, then veer north and west for a chest containing an Apple Gel. Back east and up some more to a chest with a Life Bottle, then west up the switchback. If you have not seen it yet, hang around a bit before going too far up here until a wild skit appears. Once you trigger the next bit this skit can no longer be watched. Now go north to an MC and Genis’ detour. Save and head west into the next screen.

^Genis' Friend^

@ Chest 6: Apple Gel, Chest 7: Life Bottle @

*Iselia Human Ranch*

& 098. Whip Master &

I dig the music at the Human Ranches. Head west a bit and meet Marble, an old prisoner with whom Genis has struck up a friendship. You get two chances to gain or lose Affection during this conversation:

# “Okay.”: Genis+60 or “But—“: Genis-60; then the same, but reversed “Okay”: Genis-60 or “But—“: Genis+60 #

Head E-NE and approach the cliff to learn you can scale it. Hop up one, another, then SE to grab the chest with the Orange Gel, back down, and NW toward the fence. You’ll devise a plan, be fully healed by Genis (hey, if he can do that, why doesn’t he do it all the time?!), and end up fighting two Whip Masters with only Lloyd. This can be a tough fight because they’ll try to get on either side of you so you can’t block them both. Do not allow them to do this! Keep them both in front of you and keep blocking when necessary and you should survive. Once you drop one, the other is a piece of cake.

@ Chest 8: Orange Gel @

*Iselia Forest*
You receive Genis’ equipment (weird, the only time the game actually informs you of this), and go on alone. Go ahead and equip his hat if you like, then save again and head N to the next screen. Go all the way north past a couple enemies, then west of the ramp and grab the chest with another Apple Gel. Now head directly east toward the river and open a chest for Leather Glove (I assume there is a pair?) which you should equip. Loop back west and around south and east to open yet another chest for yet another Apple Gel. Remember, if you are doing the I Hate Gels! challenge, that you can still use these suckers outside of combat! Head south, east, across the bridge, and grab the chest for 500 gald. Go north and ignore the deadend passage to the left. Instead pass under the tree then loop around west of it and just walk up the trunk to grab the bag which counts as a chest with an Orange Gel. Now head north and exit the forest. In the overworld you get the skit Restless Noishe, then head to the nearby house. (Same enemies as the other side of the forest).

^ Restless Noishe ^

@ Chest 9: Apple Gel, Chest 10: Leather Glove, Chest 11: Apple Gel, Chest 12: 500 Gald, Chest 13: Orange Gel @

*Dirk’s House*
Check out your mom’s grave if you like, then head inside to meet your dad, Dirk. After a conversation night falls and you go back outside to find all your party members have arrived. It would have been useful to travel with them if they were coming out here anyway! There is an Affection event:

# “Sure.”: Colette+120 or “Just a minute.”: no change. If you choose the latter you have the opportunity to chat with your other party members first, and the first one gets a bump of +60 affection if it’s Genis or Raine, +120 if it’s Colette (in which case why didn’t you just pick the other choice?), or +180 if it’s Kratos. After you’ve spoken to everyone to whom you wish, speak to Colette and tell her you are done. #

You have another conversation with Colette, then they head off and you go to bed. In the morning head down the stairs behind you, then outside and chat with Dirk at the grave. (Save first at the MC in the cabin if you wish). He gives you fatherly advice, and, more importantly, 2 Apple Gels, a Life Bottle, 500 Gald, and the SYLVERANT MAP. You can use this in your inventory on the overworld map to get your bearings, and even click on a town to review what is sold in the shops you’ve visited. Genis comes along and you automatically return to Iselia. Don’t forget to reequip your little buddy!

*Iselia*

& 099. Bowman, 179. Exbelua, 098. Whip Master &

Make sure you purchase anything you had your eye on at the shop, because you won’t be returning here for a very long time. You can get a skit, then another one when you enter the eastern part of the village. Once you’re satisfied, head to Colette’s house and let the fun begin... There’s now an MC outside if you need it, then head south and take on a Bowman and a Whip Master. Shouldn’t be too rough, but if you need healing, Colette’s dad is always helpful. Save again if you like, then head over to the school to fight two more Whip Masters, and receive an Apple Gel and an Orange Gel as a reward. You should then get a skit, Desians Attack, and can head south to Genis' house for a quick scene if you like. I suggest you definitely go back to heal and save once more before heading for the town gate, because the next fight can be a doozy if you aren’t fully skilled with the combat system yet.

^ Dirk the Craftsman, What is Colette Hiding?, Desians Attack ^

BOSS: Exbelua
HP: 5000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
Don’t forget to set the order to All Out! And if Genis runs out of TP, probably set it to Reserve, because he definitely won’t be of any help running in to smack this thing. Also remember to use a Magic Lense on it if that’s something about which you care. Now for actual strategy! This thing hits hard, and if you aren’t using gels you have no healing. The key is avoidance: Exbelua is pretty slow, and, like Vidarr, telegraphs its attacks pretty blatantly. So same strategy as for the first boss, just dodge back and rush in to counter. Wait a sec after it swipes, though, because sometimes it follows through with a second one! Once it is getting lower on health it starts to use some other attacks, but they’re just as slow and easy to dodge, so stay out of its reach and you should have this in the bag.

There’s nothing to do afterward except leave town, whereupon Lloyd receives the Drifting Swordsman title.

! Lloyd: Drifting Swordsman (HP+1, Str+2, Def+2) !

*Overworld*
& Grass: 125. Giant Bee, 112. Hawk, 022. Rabbit, 018. Wolf; Road: Same as grass; Forest: 050. Ghost, 125. Giant Bee, 004. Minicoid, 158. Slime, 135. Spider, 005. Tentacle Plant, 037. Zombie &

Lloyd and Genis find themselves all alone in the big, scary world. Worry not, however, because just SE of Iselia is a little campsite at which a friendly woman named Sarah will let you sleep and heal for free, so you can use this time to level up a bit if you feel underpowered for the travails ahead. If you were grinding as much as I did back in the day you may be high enough level (11) to pick up another title for Genis. If not, definitely don't worry about it; I am only 7 in my current playthrough and not having any extra difficulty.

! Genis: Magic Cycle (TP+1, Int+2) If Genis is at least level 11 and has learned all of his basic spells (Fireball, Stone Blast, Wind Blade, Aqua Edge, Lightning, and Icicle), just cast each one once in the same battle to earn this title. !

Okay, head on south and you will soon get a delivery via Noishe from your dad which will update your TRAINING MANUAL to include information on EX gems and EX skills. This is really a matter of preference whether you go S or T type for any given character. If you just cannot choose, the game seems to nudge Lloyd a bit toward S and Genis toward T. You can always look up suggestions online as well, but as far as I can tell the general theme seems to be S for straightforward combat and fewer, but more damaging attacks, and T for more technical combat and higher combo numbers. Pick your poison (or leave it for now since it does not make too much of a difference this early in the game), and keep going south along the road until you come upon the House of Salvation, which you should enter.

*House of Salvation*

Approach the man on the road and you’ll automatically speak to him and learn about Long-Range Mode. Basically you get to ride Noishe, and dodging enemies becomes easier. On the other hand, you cannot see treasure chests or Skit Points unless you are on foot, but I’m going to point those out to you, so just ride to the area I describe, then get off and grab the item in question. Inside you can rest for only 100 Gald, not as good as Sarah’s offer of free, but much closer to your next goal. Before we get to that, however, I mentioned both treasure and Skit Points...

*Overworld*

See the little dip in the mountains just NW of the HoS? This game loves to hide stuff in places like that. Ride or hike on over, then dismount and you’ll probably see the edge of a chest peeking out at the wood’s edge. Grab it by walking into it to obtain an EX Gem Lv1. Note that overworld chests do NOT count for the Treasure Hunter title, but hey, free stuff. I usually equip it to Lloyd and make him both Strong and Tough. This is not only useful for their own benefits, it also unlocks the EX Attack compound skill, which causes you to do more damage to guarding enemies. Plus they’re both S type, so nice for making sure he learns the better Demon Fang upgrade at level 16. (In my current playthrough that the videos are from I am actually planning to make almost everyone T type, so I went for Taunt and Sharp-Eyed instead. No compound skill, it seems, and I usually forget to use taunt, so the others are probably more useful in general, but once again, feel free to choose whatever fits your playstyle as I think any combination can work).

Next up is our first Skit Point. See that big stretch of peninsula going ENE from the HoS? Yeah, another type of place the game designers love to put stuff. Ride on out, then dismount near the second to last bit of forest and look for the glowing circle. Walk into it to trigger the skit and a chance to gain affection with Genis:

# “You did?”: Genis+60 or “Oh.”: no change #

Ready to continue the story? May want to rest at the HoS before heading into the desert, because enemies there are tougher. Also make sure you are comfortable with your level, because once you complete a couple quick tasks in the next town you’ll be facing a difficult(ish) stretch with Lloyd all alone for a bit, and there’s no going back out to get stronger if you find it too hard. Might be a good idea to make a second save outside just in case.

& Desert: 127. Scorpion, 025. Sidewinder, 083. Thief &

Note that you will automatically dismount when heading into the desert because you have not yet activated the Monument for this area. We’ll get to that later. Also note that Thieves drop Magical Cloth, useful later for Customization. For now just head straight south into the desert and you’ll soon see the oasis city of Triet. During your wandering you should have gotten four skits. If you have yet to see all four, and care to do so, hold off on entering the city until you get them all (the last one will not trigger until you are in the desert area). As a bonus, one more will trigger automatically when you approach Triet.

^ Get Strong!, Why Do Desians Exist?, Lonely Departure, Evidence of Colette, I Don't Sleep in Class ^

*Triet*

& 99. Bowman, 98. Whip Master &

I love that wanted poster. Okay, first up, shopping! Check out the stores to the west, and when you approach one be asked to bring him a Beast Hide. If you received one from a Rabbit enemy, speak to the man and he’ll give you a Soft Leather and instruct you on how to Customize: pretty much just use valuable materials to get equipment. (Speaking of valuable, if you happened to find more than one Beast Hide, they sell for 1000 Gald apiece...) Sometimes it’s the same stuff they’re selling in the town and it just saves you gald by recycling old equipment. Sometimes it’s stuff you won’t be able to buy for another town or two yet. Sometimes it’s something you cannot otherwise get in the entire game! And of course sometimes it’s something you will find right away in the next dungeon. So I’ll try to give you a heads up on what you should make. For now you will want to make the Hard Leather, and wait on that Duel Ring; we’ll pick up a Beast Fang soon, and we already have a Chakram!

As for the other shops:

$Heat Storm - Triet$
Knight’s Sabre 800
Flying Disc 880
Fine Star 800
Rod 800
Long Sword 790

If you are going for the Eternal Apprentice challenge, don’t bother with the Knight’s Sabre. Otherwise definitely purchase one! A Fine Star for Genis would not go amiss.

$Sand Shield – Triet$
Soft Leather 480
Leather Guard 280
White Cloak 800
Robe 600
Ribbon 240
Beret 200
Wooden Shield 600
Leather Glove 200
Gloves 100
Cape 100

A White Cloak for Genis and a Beret for Lloyd would be a good idea. Capes are about as effective as Boots, boosting Eva instead of raw Def. Your call what you like better, or one of each!

$Traveler’s Mate – Triet$
Apple Gel 100
Orange Gel 200
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Holy Bottle 200
Magic Lense 10

Buy what you like here; make sure you have at least 1 Magic Lense if you care about that completion.

$Vermilion Blades – Triet$
Flying Disc – Chakram + Magical Cloth
Duel Ring – Chakram + Beast Fang
Hard Leather – Soft Leather + Beast Hide

We already went over this one. You can sell your extra Soft Leather and the Wooden Sword if you replaced it, but keep Genis’ old equipment for later customization. For a laugh, check out the person-shaped hole across from the weapon shop. Seem familiar? Also funny (and necessary to continue) check out the wanted poster next to the inn. Check it again for a skit. Then go on into said inn and go upstairs. See that funny-looking object in the corner? If not, just run around up there until the prompt comes up to inspect something. Do so, and you will meet the Wonder Chef for the first time! This weirdo disguises himself as random objects in various towns and teaches recipes to those who find him. Gotta catch ‘em all, right? This time he teaches you Cabbage Roll, which I find less than useful at this point in the game because of the price of pork. I’d say stick with Sandwiches for now. Rest at the inn if you’re hurting, then go outside and head north to the next screen.

^ The Wanted Poster ^

Keep going north and you’ll see a chef running the food store:

$Desert Rose – Triet$
Pork 120
Onion 60
Cabbage 60
Mushroom 60
Barley Rice 60
Bread 70
Red Satay 200

Buy more bread if you need it, then head NW into the tent. Speak to the Fortune Teller and pay the 100 Gald (I believe in order to continue the story you need to both pay this fee and check out the wanted poster mentioned earlier. Until then you can freely exit and reenter the town to earn the 100 Gald if you are short (Thanks KMemBR!)). Now go save in the inn (assuming you have another save outside just in case), and try to leave town. Uh oh, time to fight a Bowman and two Whip Masters! As usual when outnumbered, try not to let them flank you.

*Sylverant Base*
Lloyd awakens alone and without equipment in a cell. He realizes he still has the Sorcerer’s Ring, though, so when the guard walks by, blast him! You automatically are released from the cell. Hit the big pink buttons to open the other cells and gain access to a chest with a Beast Hide as well as an MC. Now head east and grab the chest you see to recover your equipment. (This is necessary, but doesn’t count for Treasure Hunter). Head further east to encounter a pair of Foot Soldiers, then north out of the room once you’ve finished them off. You should get a couple skits in quick succession while here.

@ Chest 14: Beast Hide @

^ Unknown Technology, Feels Different ^

& 229. Botta, 101. Foot Soldier, 081. Raybit &

This room contains your first Ring Changer, weird magic/machines that change the function of your Sorcerer’s Ring. This one makes it shoot electricity instead of fire, useful against machines. You’ll have to wait until the enemy is on top of the indicated square and zap it (from behind, preferably, since they charge at you when they see you), then keep zapping it every once in a while to keep it frozen in place until the other one is a little closer, then run over and do the same to it. Once you manage to get both robots frozen on the panels at the same time, the door on the west wall unlocks.

Go west, fighting Raybits along the way (if you’re lucky they’ll drop White Silver for Customizing), and take the first turn north. Defeat the soldier group to receive a Memory Gem, which will allow you to unlock an MC later on. Keep going north into the next room and open the chest for a Beast Fang (told you we’d get one of these soon). Now go back south, and west into the next room.

@ Chest 15: Beast Fang @

In here you will find the locked MC which you can use your Memory Gem to unlock. There are also three pillars to the west that you will have to zap with your Sorcerer’s Ring. First zap the top and middle pillars, then go south into the next room and find a chest with a Magical Cloth. Back to the last room, zap the bottom pillar too and go east (I know, didn’t we come from there? No, we’re spinning the room! I guess.). Here there is a Raybit you can easily farm for White Silver if you really want to by transitioning rooms back and forth. Go east and grab the chest with 1500 Gald, then back west. Zap the top and middle pillars once more, then head north and out of here for the final time. Don’t forget to save first, as we have a boss coming up! Oh, and here we also have the first of the "You're taking too long in this dungeon" skits. To see it you have to spend at least ten minutes NOT INCLUDING TIME IN A MENU OR IN COMBAT in the dungeon BEFORE fighting the boss.

^ Help, Genis! ^

@ Chest 16: Magical Cloth, Chest 17: 1500 Gald @

BOSS: Botta
HP: 4200, Weakness: None, Resists: None, Steal: Yellow Quartz, Minions: 2 Foot Soldiers
This guy is faster than the other bosses you’ve fought previously, and he has minions whom you’ll want to eliminate first. As usual, try to avoid getting flanked, and utilize blocking and dodging, then counter. If you see him start to cast, disengage and wait until he finishes so you aren’t stuck in the middle of an attack when the spell goes off. When it does, run out of the area immediately and you should escape without damage. Note that blocking will not work against spells. At least, not the kind of blocking you can do now... Oh, and with all bosses, when he goes into overdrive you might as well just back off until it wears off, because you’ll do reduced damage and be unable to stagger them. If you care about absolutely complete enemy data, not only do you need to use a Magic Lens on him, but also have Colette steal successfully (assuming she is at least level 10 and has learned the Item Thief skill). Or just wait for New Game+.

*Overworld*
Just head SW back to Triet. On your way you can get three skits, the third unmissable in which Kratos will talk to you and add Status Effects to the TRAINING MANUAL.

^ Good Job, Noishe!, Lloyd Acknowledges His Mistake, Know the Enemy ^

*Triet*
You automatically stay the night at the inn and get a few chances for affection during the night. (Not like that, perv.)

# If you check the door upstairs on the right back wall Lloyd will note it is Colette’s room: “Go in.”: Colette+60 or “Let’s not.”: no change; the door on the left next to it is Genis and Raine’s room, which you must enter to continue. After the automatic conversation, if you speak to Raine again: Raine+60. Check on the sleeping Genis: “Pinch his nose!”: no change, or “Let’s not wake him.”: Genis+60. Finally, when you leave the room you see Kratos leaving the inn: “Let’s follow him.”: Kratos+120, or “Let’s leave him alone.”: no change (Note that even if you are not trying to raise Kratos' affection, you may want to follow him for story reasons...)#

In the morning leave the inn to receive the MONSTER LIST, which keeps track of all the monsters you encounter. You do not need to defeat a monster for it to show up in the list, and for the title you only need them all to appear in the list, not be fully filled out. If you’re a completionist like me, however, you want it perfect, which means you need to ID every monster with either a Magic Lens or Raine’s Inspect Magic skill, and furthermore the vast majority of enemies require you to use Raine to do it or you don’t get all the info. For this reason, plus the fact that a full-time healer is useful, she remained in my party through about 90% of my initial playthrough. In addition to their stats, if you want the list to show what an enemy drops or what you can steal from it, you have to get said drop or steal successfully, respectively. Let’s just say it takes a while.

Now that we have a full party again (+1!), let’s do a bit more shopping. First of all I would buy a Flying Disc from the weapon shop, equip it to Colette, and use her starting Chakram to customize a Duel Ring, since we won’t have access to that weapon for quite a while otherwise. Why not have just bought an extra Chakram back in Iselia? Because that Flying Disc will be useful for further customizaton later. A Ribbon and a pair of Gloves for each of the ladies would be useful.

Before we head out, it’s also time to start another collection title, this one for Colette. You’ll need to make her your on-screen avatar, then head up to the screen with the fortune teller and speak to the dog sitting there. Colette will get really excited and name it Cammy. Name all the dogs in the game to gain a title! (There’s one in plain view back at the Iselia HoS as well if you want to run back there now, though we’ll be back that way again much later in the game.)

Dogs: 1

*Overworld*
More low-hanging titles!

! Genis: Experimental (HP+1, Str+1, Acc+3) Just switch Genis’ weapons five times in one fight. Super simple.

Colette: Oblivious (HP+3) Get Colette poisoned, finish the fight, DON’T CURE IT (though you can heal HP), complete another fight with her still poisoned the whole time and you’ll get this one.

Colette: Single-minded (TP+1, Acc+2) Control Colette and use the same tech ten times in one fight. Simple.

Raine: Item Keeper (Def+3, Eva+3) Have Raine use ten items in one battle. Magic Lenses are super cheap...

If you’re NOT going for the Friendship First challenge, Raine can also grab the Survivor and Never Say Never titles (though Life Bottles, at this point, are NOT cheap). Search later in the document for details. !

Also, see that strip of grass following along the mountains that stick out in the SW? Guess what? Skit point! Just hike on out there, it’s hard to miss.

# “I’ll leave her alone.”: no change, or “What’s wrong, Professor?”: Raine+60 #

When satisfied, head WSW from Triet to the Triet Ruins.

Several more skits that weren't in the previous section because of stupid character limits; as always, if you are trying to see them all make sure they trigger before entering the next area:

^ Journey to Save the World, Prayer (obtained by sleeping at the inn, may take multiple tries), We're Not on Vacation, Kratos' Intention, Noishe Worries (have to be in the desert), The Hole in the Wall, and Sense of Direction (if you try to enter the Ossa Trail, in the NE section of the desert, before clearing the dungeon below) ^

*Triet Ruins*
You’ll immediately get into a fight against two Fire Elements, against whom Genis can earn another title...

! Genis: Study Harder! (Eva+2, Acc+2) Cast fireball against the Fire Elements ten times in one battle to earn this. Any other occasion where the enemy would clearly be resistant to, if not absorb, the element in question will work too. !

After the fight Kratos teaches everyone their respective guard techs, which tend to be a little pricey on the TP, but can save your butt if you hotkey them and have the reflexes to use it when a big spell is coming your way (and you can’t just dodge it, which is almost always better). Now go up the shallow steps to your left, where the entrance to the ruins will be opened, and Raine will earn her Archeological Mania title. Down the stairs into danger we go. Oh, and a skit will trigger automatically, the first of the Combo! skits. Each of these skits triggers when their respective party member has the top affection spot; if this is your first playthrough there is no way for it to not be Colette at this time.

^ Combo! Lloyd and Colette ^

! Raine: Archeological Mania (TP+1, Int+2) !

& 067. Brown Pot, 118. Fire Bird, 068. Fire Element, 072. Fire Warrior, 181. Ktugach, 182. Ktugachling, 127. Scorpion &

From the entrance, head along the south corridor until you come across a chest with rubble atop it. Use the Sorcerer’s Ring to blast the rubble away, then open it for a Lemon Gel. Enter the doorway nearby.

@ Chest 18: Lemon Gel @

Kill the bird in this room for a memory gem, then proceed up the short steps and inspect the little cubby on the pillar to your left. Shoot the cubby with the Sorcerer’s Ring, then go back out into the main corridor and follow it all the way around past where you came in and to the north. Here you will see another chest, but DO NOT OPEN IT.

This chest is a Fake, and it is quite powerful. It is pretty much immune to physical damage, so the main way to beat it is to have Genis and Kratos both set to L-Range Magic and All Out while Lloyd stands in front of it and blocks. The fourth person can either be Raine providing healing or Colette trying to steal from it. If successful, a steal attempt will provide an All-Divide, a very useful and rare item that halves all damage during the battle for both friend and foes. This may seem like a wash, but it definitely takes some pressure off of your healers, and since the ability to heal is one of the only advantages you have against some of the later bosses, this is a good item. If you do beat the Fake, you receive another All-Divide and a Spirit Bottle. I would suggest waiting at least until you can save first before trying it, however, maybe even after you’ve defeated the boss of the ruins and are on your way out. (PS. Fakes don’t count for Treasure Hunter, but you will have to face at least one to complete your MONSTER LIST.)

All that said, let’s go through that door. Go north then west, fighting monsters as you go. You will come to a block and see an inconvenient gap just a bit to the SE. Push and pull the block to fill the gap and grab the chest you can now reach to obtain a Stiletto for Kratos. Stand on the block to shoot fire into the cubby, then walk along the newly risen flooring to the east to come around and shoot fire into another cubby on the south side of the pillar. Back out to the main corridor with you!

@ Chest 19: Stiletto @

Go east and south until you are back near where you came in and enter the door across from the exit. Go south and open a chest with an Apple Gel, then north and around the wall to open two more to find a Bracelet (finally arm armor for Genis!) and a Life Bottle. Back around the wall I’m sure you noticed the blocks, and we know what to do with those by now, don’t we? Push, pull, plead, and intimidate if you have to, but get those blocks in their hole and shoot fire into that tempting cubby. Now up that southern ramp and open a chest for a Savory, then back out to the main corridor.

@ Chest 20: Apple Gel, Chest 21: Bracelet, Chest 22: Life Bottle, Chest 23: Savory @

Go back south and into the original door next to the chest that had the rubble on it, and pyro the cubby right in front of you (had you done it earlier it would have blocked you from another cubby). That done, back out to the corridor, up to the middle door and through, and up the stairs. Here you will find three chests that you can access if you did everything as I told you:

@ Chest 24: 1000 Gald, Chest 25: Mumei, Chest 26: Circlet @

If you’re not doing Eternal Apprentice, slap that Mumei into Lloyd’s sweaty hands, and the circlet can go to whomever.

Go ahead and save, then if you want a skit wait around until it shows up. When ready, use the warp and get ready for the next boss battle. Note that you have to have Colette in your team for this fight; if she is not already you will be prompted to add her.

^ I'm Fine... ^

BOSS: Ktugach
HP: 5000, Weakness: Ice, Water, Resists: Fire, Minions: 2 Ktugachlings
As usual, take out the weak minions first or they’ll just annoy you. The boss has two powerful attacks, a physical where he sprays spines at you, and a strong fire spell, Eruption. Block the former and dodge or use your guard tech to block it. Both it and its minions are weak to Ice and Water, so if Genis has Spread already then make sure to give them a liberal dowsing.

Colette gains a new spell, Angel Feathers. Unfortunately, without a certain accessory or Lv4 EX skill, all her angelic spells have too long of casting times to be terribly useful, so I tend to turn them off in auto-cast unless facing a boss that is specifically weak to light damage, in which case I turn off everything but that. Anyhow, you’re fully healed after the boss fight and will be fully healed again when you leave, so feel free to run around earning a little more experience and gald, try your hand against the Fake, whatever tickles your fancy. When you’re ready, head on out the way you entered. There will be a scene and then you’ll be at a campsite and ready to affect your Affection!

# Whoever you speak to FIRST will be affected, based on your answer. Subsequent conversations have no effect. Colette: just talk to her for Colette+60, but this also ends the scene; Genis: “It was missing something.”: Genis+60 or “It tasted pretty good.”: Genis-60; Raine: “Colette is Colette.”: Raine+60 or “She’s just becoming an angel, right?”: no change; Kratos: “The village was my fault.”: Kratos+60 or “I guess you’re right.”: Kratos+120 #

Head back over to Triet where Raine will automatically gain her Sisterly Love title, feel free to shop, and then it’s time for another trek across the desert.

! Raine: Sisterly Love (Str+1, Acc+1) !

*Overworld*
Okay, see the NE indentation of the mountains in the desert? That’s where we’re heading first, because there we shall find the stone Monument that allows us to ride Noishe in the southern half of this continent. Once you’ve activated that sucker, it all becomes a bit easier. Parallel the mountains going south until you hit a little patch of grass in the far SE corner. Dismount, and you’ll find a Skit Point!

# “You seem happy.”: Colette+60, or “Weirdo.”: no change #

Now backtrack a bit, following the mountains north, and you’ll see the entrance to a pass just about due east from Triet. That’s our target.

Once again a couple skits that should have gone in the previous section, but character limits. You can get the first two before entering Ossa Trail normally, though for the second you need Kratos to have high affection, maybe even highest. The other three occur after cooking after a battle (the first two with anyone and the last with Raine AND she has to fail). I believe the battle and cooking has to occur on the overworld for it to count, but you have some time to see them.

^ To Palmacosta, Kratos Trains Lloyd, Light Eater, An Adult's Sense of Taste, Chef Raine ^

*Ossa Trail*

& 090. Archer, 114. Axe Beak, 020. Bear, 225. Clumsy Assassin, 190. Guardian: Wind, 112. Hawk, 007. Mandragora, 083. Thief, 092. Witch &

The first screen has a funny little scene followed by an Affection event:

# “Leave her alone. She’s an enemy.”: Colette-60, Genis-60, Raine+60, Kratos+120; or “Well, I do feel a bit sorry for her.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine-60, Kratos-60, Sheena+180 (Who’s Sheena? You’ll find out later. This applies even though she is not in your party. Just note that if she is in one of the top three spots you can snag her a little earlier.) #

Pick whichever you like and move on to the east. There’s only one way to proceed, so just keep going uphill and you’ll come across a chest with a Battle Staff for Raine shortly before the transition to the next screen.

@ Chest 27: Battle Staff @

Keep following the path and you’ll come to an MC and a pair of chests containing an Apple Gel and a Melange Gel. This is the apex of the pass, so grab the treasure, save if you want, and start going downhill to the next screen. I also like to adjust Strat for the upcoming boss fight; check ahead if you want to copy me.

@ Chest 28: Apple Gel, Chest 29: Melange Gel @

Again, follow the trail, grab a chest with an Orange Gel, and shortly after face another boss!

@ Chest 30: Orange Gel @

BOSS: Clumsy Assassin
HP: 1800, Weakness: None, Resists: None, Minions: Guardian: Wind
For this fight I like to switch Kratos’ All Out Order to Protect Friends instead of Attack Freely; that way when you’re busy wailing on the Assassin and her Guardian starts eating your casters, he’ll run off to the rescue. Or try Scatter and he’ll mostly stick to the Guardian throughout the fight. Anyway, fairly simple (though it did take me a few tries to beat it without Raine or Colette getting KO’d on my Friendship First run), the only attack to really worry about is the Assassin’s Pyre Seal which does a decent chunk of damage and knocks you down. Block or dodge it and you’re fine.

I know you want to explore the big, inviting cave mouth, but for now go south and try to exit. Kratos will teach you how to perform Unity Attacks, which can do a decent amount of damage when set up right, but are mainly useful for always knocking the enemy down if they connect, and reaching the true heights of combo numbers. You want to see a 60 or 100 hit combo, you’re going to need incredible timing, or a Unity Attack. Your TRAINING MANUAL will be updated.

^ Team Coordination ^

Head out for real and save if you like, then come back and enter the cave. In here I usually get two skits pretty quickly, but I think the second one can appear on the overworld as well if you don't see it here. Head NW then NE and soon you’ll find a chest with a Fine Guard. Now go SE, SW, SE, and SW for a chest containing Black Silver. Back NE, NW, and NE all the way to the next screen. Ignore the floating skull for the moment (Reminds me of Planescape: Torment. When is THAT going to be remastered on Steam?! (11 April, 2017 apparently)) and search behind the crates on the right for a Beast Fang, then the visible chest behind it for an EX Gem 1. This one I like to give to Colette and make sure she has both Sharp-Eyed and Tough, which will give her the Item Finder skill. I have heard it is only a small boost to item drops, but more free stuff is more free stuff.

^ The Ossa Trail, Raised by a Dwarf ^

@ Chest 31: Fine Guard, Chest 32: Black Silver, Chest 33: Beast Fang, Chest 34: EX Gem 1 @

Now I bet you’re wondering what that floating skull thing is, right? That is a very powerful enemy known as a Sword Dancer (Part 1). Unless you’ve been power-leveling like crazy, you probably aren’t strong enough to defeat it right now. If you really want to take a crack at it, I’d suggest going back out to save first, but then again it doesn’t end in game over if you die, just taunts you and leaves you all at 1HP, so your call. I’ll detail the fight at the last possible time you can come back to fight it before it disappears, so search for that if you want.

Sword Dancer slain or not, go back to the previous screen and follow the corridor straight SW to exit the cave, then exit the Trail to the south.

*Overworld*
& Grass: 090. Archer, 114. Axe Beak, 022. Rabbit, 025. Sidewinder, 083. Thief, 092. Witch, 018. Wolf; Road: same as Grass; Forest: 050. Ghost, 125. Giant Bee, 129. Woods Worm, 007. Mandragora, 004. Minicoid, 158. Slime, 005. Tentacle Plant, 037. Zombie; Beach: 148. Fish, 153. Sea Jelly &

If you’re in need of a rest, head straight to the town on the coast to the SE. If you’re still relatively fresh, let’s explore and do some stuff! You'll probably see a skit right away (heck, it may have already triggered if you stepped out earlier to save). First let us enable Noishe, our faithful mount, for the eastern part of the continent. You’ll want to head straight north until you hit the mountains and search the forest next to you for a Lemon Gel. Then go east following the mountains around til you see the Monument sitting on the shore, bold as you please. Activate it and mount up! Now let’s turn around and go all the way south, past the town, to that Florida looking stretch of beach. At the end of the grass just before the sand begins, you’ll have to dismount to find another Skit Point!

^ An Assassin ^

# “Yeah.”: no change, or “What’s foolish about it?!”: Kratos+60 #

That’s all folks, so head back north and let’s visit the little fishing town of Izoold.

*Izoold*
First thing’s first, there’s a puppy to name right in front of you as you enter! Once Colette’s animal love has been shown, stop by the inn beside it if you need a night’s rest (you might see a skit during the night if you do), then check out the house on the right and check the pelican carving for another visit from the Wonder Chef. This time he teaches you Rice Ball, which is actually pretty useful since Rice is cheap and it restores both HP and TP.

Dogs: 2

^ Even if I Become an Angel... ^

Now you have to make a big decision. At this point you can decide to take the so-called Hard Path by going back north past the Monument we activated earlier, over the bridge, and to the town of Hima that we wouldn’t normally reach for some time yet. It is essentially skipping way ahead, with a commensurate increase in enemy difficulty, and you’ll swing back to clean up the things you missed later. As far as I know there is no actual benefit to doing this aside from recruiting Sheena a little earlier than normal, and it causes you to miss out on some cool skits like training scenes with Kratos. So I’ll be describing the Easy (aka normal, obviously intended) path, but you know that this is here if you want to skip around.

Speak to the bearded guy with the headband wandering around here, then head into the middle house and speak to the young woman. She’ll leave in a tizzy, but we’ll be seeing her again really soon. Now go back outside and head east to the next screen.

Follow the cliff NE and you’ll come across the town’s only shop, selling seafood and basic items:

$ Deep Blue – Izoold $
Apple Gel 100
Orange Gel 200
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Cod 110
Squid 110
Octopus 70
Barley Rice 60
Seaweed 20

Stock up on some Barley Rice if you want to make those Rice Balls, and since Seaweed is so cheap it probably won’t hurt to grab that too. If you’re feeling particularly flush, buy some fish to go with it. Down on the dock area the weird pink thing, a Katz, is ready and willing to play the game’s first mini-game with you, Emote Bubble, or EB for short. It’s really easy (for people who aren't tragically uncoordinated like myself), and really simple, though it quickly gets boring. If you have the patience, however, you can fill up stock on Apple, Orange, and Lemon gels, and make some nice cash by selling said Lemon Gels (500 apiece, not bad). This really helped my low-level hard run when I needed extra gald.

Emote Bubble
Starts: First time in Izoold. Requires: Genis currently in party.

The game starts by showing you some emotes and the corresponding buttons. Then the Katz performs 10 (easy), 20 (normal), or 30 (hard) emotes and you must copy it, one at a time. The timing is really slow and thus easy but boring. It doesn’t speed up on harder difficulties, just last longer. Prizes are 5 Apple Gels on easy, 5 Orange Gels on normal, or 5 Lemon Gels on hard.

Once you’ve earned as many gels as you care to, head out onto the dock to see the young woman from earlier, Lyla, haranguing a young man about delivering a letter. She’ll eventually ask you to deliver it, which is the only way to get a boat to take you to your next destination, so say yes (if you say no you’ll be stuck on the Hard Path described above). There is no affection change for this decision, by the way. If you’re all done in town, talk to Max, the boat captain, and he’ll take you to Palmacosta.

*Palmacosta*
Here we have our first sizable settlement. Make your way off the docks and immediately come across another dog to name (also watch the skit that comes up to add Battle Tips to your TRAINING MANUAL if you like; it only shows up if you have fought at least 150 battles, however). Next to the dog is the much better stocked food market, and just south of that are the basic item, weapon, armor, and customization stores.

Dogs: 3

^ To Fight the Strong ^

$ Seven Seas – Palmacosta $
Pork 120
Beef 140
Chicken 120
Snapper 120
Tuna 100
Cod 110
Squid 110
Shrimp 60
Octopus 70
Onion 60
Rice 80
Barley Rice 60
Pasta 80
Panyan 70
Bread 70
Roll 70
White Satay 200
Red Satay 200
Egg 50
Cheese 60
Milk 50

$ Anchors Aweigh – Palmacosta $
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Holy Bottle 200
Dark Bottle 200
Magic Lense 10

$ High Tide – Palmacosta $
Chain Mail 960
Fine Guard 900
White Cloak 800
Feather Robe 920
Leather Helm 500
Circlet 160
Bracelet 400
Leather Boots 600

$ Tsunami – Palmacosta $
Rapier 1300
Duel Ring 1140
Duel Star 1180
Battle Staff 1150
Steel Sword 1380

$ Ultramarine – Palmacosta $
Masamune – Rapier + White Silver
Slicer Ring – Flying Disc + Black Silver
Gem Rod – Battle Staff + Beast Hide
Steel Sword – Long Sword + Beast Fang
Mage Cloak – Cloak + White Silver

This is also the first shop where you can exchange Grade for Customization materials, but I’d hold off on this:

Beast Fang 5.0
Magical Cloth 10.0
Black Silver 10.0
White Silver 10.0
Grab Bag 30.0

I’d suggest you buy, funds allowing, a Rapier and Duel Star at the weapon shop, 2 suits of Chain Mail, a Feather Robe, a Leather Helm, and 2 Bracelets at the armor shop, and build yourself one of everything from the customization shop. This is assuming at least one Beast Fang and Beast Hide dropped fighting Bears in Ossa Trail, and White Silver from fighting Raybits back at the Sylverant Base. If you have only one White Silver, make the Masamune instead of the Mage Cloak, even if you are going for Eternal Apprentice, for three reasons. 1) You’re almost to the point where that challenge will be complete and you’ll want something nice for Lloyd to equip; 2) Lloyd attacks much more often than Genis is hit; and 3) You’ll find a Mage Cloak in a dungeon not to long from now. Again, I do not suggest buying more materials with Grade unless you’re absolutely swimming in the stuff; it’s just not worth it. Also keep in mind that you’ll soon be forced to spend 1000 gald on a plot item, but it’s free if you have less than 1000. So if you are close to that number, you may want to just buy some extra items and food which are actually useful rather than spend the gald on something you only need for plot... If you have as much as 4000 to spare, might instead buy another Poison Charm from the next shop.

Shopping done, head south to the next screen and watch a scene that causes the need for the plot item I mentioned, Palma Potion (you’re fooling no one, translators, it’s local sake). You won’t be able to leave before you get one, but we’ll handle that later. First enter the big building in front of you, which happens to be the local inn, and save.

Here is a completely optional but highly recommended step. Assuming you have at least 30.0 Grade (and if you don’t, come back when you do), go back to the Customization shop and purchase a Grab Bag. The item you are looking for is called a Sephira. If you get anything else, reset and try again. The reason you want this so much is that, when equipped as an accessory to any member of the active party, it increases all gald gained from battle by half again! That adds up quickly, believe me, and grabbing one this early makes a big difference through the course of the game.

Side note: the Tales of Symphonia Ultimate Skit Guide by Catterick here on Steam that I am using to try to find as many skits as possible has some notes about random things blocking certain skits around here. I ended up accidentally doing some of those things and still getting the skits, so maybe some of them have been fixed, but if you are on the hunt to catch 'em all it is probably best to follow the guidelines just in case.

Now dead broke but clutching a Sephira in your greedy little paw (or don’t, I’m not your dad), head east from the inn. Ignore the first building even though it seems like the logical place to buy the “Potion”, and enter the next one to meet a pair of oddly named but plot relevant characters. After the scene, speak to the shopkeeper, buy the Palma Potion if you have the 1000 gald to blow, or just exit the menu if you don’t. If the latter, Cacao will suggest you ask about waitressing at the Academy, which we’re going to do anyway. You should get a skit shortly after speaking to them, but not if you skipped by the shop and went to the next screen east of it first, so make sure you don't rush ahead!

$ Marble’s – Palmacosta $
Palma Potion 1000
Apple Gel 100
Orange Gel 200
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Holy Bottle 200
Magic Lens 10
Guard Bottle 1000
Poison Charm 4000

^ Dorr of Palmacost ^

Leave the store, go east over the bridge to the new screen, watch another scene, and continue east to the most important part, another doggy! Two in one city, how awesome is that? Doggy loving over (for now), you can head north on the dock to see the steam ship and glimpse the mysterious Assassin once more if you like, then return to the town plaza and go into the northern-most building on the east side.

Dogs: 4

This is the church. You can chat with Chocolat directly on your right as you enter, but the main person you want to speak to is the priest. Plot exposition taken care of, leave the church and (Note that Catterick says the order of events here may screw up a skit later, so you may want to skip ahead to talking to the governor before returning to do the Academy stuff last) enter the Academy next door. Here a couple of brats challenge Genis to a test of smarts, which you’ll want to accept because there’s a title in it for you. The brats will head upstairs to await you, but for now check out the basketball hoop thing to find the Wonder Chef again. He’ll teach you how to make Omelets this time, which are nice for getting rid of poison, I guess, but it’s not like Raine can’t just use Recover. I stuck with Rice Balls, personally. Next head to the eastern part of the building and enter the far door.

This is the campus restaurant, and Colette will do some waitressing when you speak to the guy behind the counter and agree. It’s pretty easy, and the better you do the more money you earn (but still a pitiful amount). The real prizes, earned no matter how badly you do, are a Palma Potion if Cacao recommended you and Colette’s Turbo Waitress title regardless. Once finished up here, go back out to the lobby and upstairs. Here enter the first door to practice for the quiz. Raine asks three questions about... the game? Almost breaking the fourth wall here. The correct answers are “Guardian”, “Acceleration due to gravity”, and “I don’t know”. The number you get right affects Genis’ affection level after the quiz. Speaking of which, head into the room next door to take it automatically. If you got fewer than two questions right, Genis loses. Two right and he ties, and three means a win. I haven’t actually seen him lose, so I don’t know what happens then, but win or tie and he earns the Honor Role title.

# All questions right: Genis+180; 2 right: Genis+60; 1 right: Genis-60; all wrong: Genis-180 #

! Colette: Turbo Waitress (Def+2, Int+2)

Genis: Honor Roll (Int+1, Acc+1) !

We’re now done with the Academy, so head back outside. Head to the building to the NW and speak to the guard on the right for an affection choice with Kratos (and a cool scene if you say yes):

# Kratos Training Scene 1: “Naw, never mind.”: Kratos-120, or “Please.”: Kratos+120 #

Now enter the building and speak to the folks inside. Shortly after a skit should fire. That done, leave the building and head west to the next screen, then keep going west until you automatically give the Palma Potion away. You'll trigger another skit, then it's time to leave the city!

^ Colette's Imposter, Imposters^

*Overworld*
& Road: 090. Archer, 085. Soldier, 083. Thief, 092. Witch; Grass: 137. Giant Beetle, 139. Grasshopper; Forest: 137. Giant Beetle, 129. Woods Worm; Beach: 148. Fish, 153. Sea Jelly, 142. Starfish &

Start by heading east along the southern coast. You’ll pass Nova’s caravan in the forest to your left, but you can’t rest there anymore. Feel free to stop by to meet Sarah's husband, Nova, and their kids. This will also set things up for a skit later on, but you won't miss much if you decide to skip them for now. Keep going and between the coast and the first bit of mountain you’ll find a chest with your first EX Gem Lv.2. This makes life so much easier: slap it on Lloyd, set it to Personal, and forget about it, because this bad boy has the incredibly helpful effect of making you move faster in towns and dungeons. If he has the Lv.1 Strong skill equipped, it will also increase his critical hit rate! Keep following the coast, turning inland when the mountains force you to, and you’ll come across the Monument for this area in a bend in the pass. Now on Noishe-back, swing around the arm of the mountain and head NW back toward the road. At the T-Junction you’ll see the Palma House of Salvation, but we’ll come back here in a minute. Go NNW until you reach the mountains, then head east along them to the coast to find a chest with a Magic Mist. This won’t excite you if you’re playing a Brave Soul challenge, since it helps you to run away faster, but it’s awesome for a low-level challenge. See that skinny peninsula nearby sticking out NE? The other monument for this area is at the tip of that, so go activate it for full Noishe coverage. Now back west along the mountains to the pass and enter there.

*Hakonesia Peak*
We can’t get through the pass right now, but that’s not what we’re here for anyway. Enter the house and speak to the geezer to find out you need a statue to trade for a book. Alrighty then. Nothing else to do here, so leave and go back to that HoS at the crossroads. Along the way you should get two or three skits, the third requiring Kratos being in first place affection.

^ Lloyd Admonished, Lloyd Praised, Qualifications as a Teacher ^

*Palmacosta House of Salvation*
First of all go greet the cute dog next to the place, then enter for a choice:

Dogs: 5

# “Speak to her.”: no change; “Leave her alone.”: Sheena+180 (Yep, even though she is not in the party.)#

Go upstairs to rest for cheap if you want, then head out and back to Palmacosta.

*Palmacosta*

& 107. Evil Sorcerer, 098. Whip Master

Head to the east part of town for a scene and a fight with an Evil Sorcerer and 2 Whip Masters. Go ahead if you have any more shopping or anything to do. Make sure you swing by the docks area either way to trigger a skit, one of three you should get while running around town now. Speak to the priest-looking person next to the town's exit and agree to escort them to fast travel to the pass.

^ Mystery of the Imposters, Palmacosta's Future, Don't Tell Lloyd ^

*Hakonesia Pass*
You are presented with a choice almost right away. You have to do it either way to continue the story, and the decision doesn’t actually lock you into any given order to do things, so just choose what seems appropriate or base it on how it affects Affection:

# “Yeah, okay.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine+60, Kratos+60, Sheena+60; or “Releasing the seals comes first.”: Colette-60, Genis-60, Raine+120, Sheena-120 #

Okay, we’re done here, let’s head to that Human Ranch and kick some Desian butt.

*Overworld*
Just head SE along the road from the HoS, through the pass between the two mountain ranges, and swing north when you can. You’ll see a big, obvious structure among the trees, so head for that. Along the way you should get another skit. In fact, if you want to get one more skit you should be able to go further east and south past the ranch to the beach where you will see a place you can enter (Thoda Docks). Don't go in, just hang out nearby for a bit and the skit should pop. Then back to that ranch!

^ Defeat Magnius, Strange Raine ^

Note: it is somewhere in the next few areas that I usually reach level 20, which will earn your characters another title:

! Lloyd: Grand Swordsman (HP+4, Str+4, Def+3)

Colette: Chosen (TP+2, Int+3, Acc+2)

Genis: Sorcerer (HP+2, TP+1, Acc+1)

Raine: Researcher (HP+2, Int+3)

Kratos: Magic Swordsman (HP+2, TP+1, Int+1)

*Palmacosta Human Ranch*
A skit should trigger almost straight away, then go straight north for a scene and a choice with actual significance (though it also has the usual Affection changes):

^ The Second Ranch ^

# “Let’s go attack!”: Colette+120, Genis+120, Raine-120, Kratos-120, Sheena +180; or “Let’s return to Palmacosta.”: Colette+60, Raine+120, Kratos+120, Sheena-120 #

If you are going for Eternal Apprentice, definitely choose to return to Palmacosta! That way you get to fight the boss that ends that stupid challenge and finally ditch your Wooden Sword. If you’re not going for that title, either way is fine since you’ll end up having to do both regardless. I’ll assume you’re going to Palmacosta first, but trust you’ll be able to figure it out if you do otherwise. You can get a skit on the way to Palmacosta.

^ Dorr's True Intention ^

*Palmacosta*
Once you get back to Palmacosta, enter the government building where you met Dorr earlier (you can pop in at Cacao’s shop for a quick scene along the way), then enter the doorway in the north wall next to you (make sure Lloyd is in the active party if you are going for the Eternal Apprentice title!). There will be a scene, then a boss fight.

& 187. Kilia &

BOSS: Kilia
HP: 10000, Weakness: Light, Resists: Darkness
She’s actually really easy and simple to beat. Just use Lloyd or Kratos to keep her busy with blocking while Colette and Raine sit back and blast her with Angel Feathers and Photon, respectively. She starts floating partway through, but other than increasing the length of her combo attack, it doesn’t do much.

Once you beat her there is another scene and another choice:

# “Okay.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Sheena+60; or “That I can’t do.”: Raine+60, Kratos+60, Sheena+60 #

Like most choices in this game, it doesn’t actually matter what you say other than for Affection scores. Once you’re all done it’s time to return to the Ranch, though you can grab a few skits here in the city first. They all trigger in the area right by the exit; you may need to enter and exit a building like the inn a few times to get them all to show up.

^ He's a Father, Parental Love, Mystery of the Desians ^

If you want to save just a bit of travel time you can escort that person again, either all the way to Hakonesia Peak or partway to the HoS. Either way, head back to the Ranch.

*Palmacosta Human Ranch*

& 099. Bowman, 107. Evil Sorcerer, 217. Magnius, 081. Raybit, 098. Whip Master &

If you took a different path than I did and chose a frontal assault, just go down the path to the right, kill some soldiers, and kick the door down. You end up in the Ring Changer room.

If you went to Palmacosta first, go left instead and use the computer to enter the passcode Dorr gave you (if you don't remember check the key card in your inventory). Go west, NE, and up the eastern staircase to also end up in the Ring Changer room. The soldier right before the stairs carries the Memory Gem for this dungeon. Somewhere in this dungeon you should get a skit, and for once you don't have to wait ten minutes to see it!

^ At the Palmacosta Ranch ^

Use the RC to get the Radar power. What this does, when you use the Sorcerer’s Ring, is to make everything green, reveal hidden objects like treasures, activate certain items like warp pads, and render all enemies invisible to you (they can still see you, however!). Okay, let’s go grab some treasure.

Go west down the stairs, kill the soldier (gaining a Memory Gem if you didn’t do this on the way in), and activate the ring. See the glowy bit? That’s this place’s idea of a treasure chest. Search it for an Apple Gel. Now head SW, take care of some more enemies, activate the ring, and check the NW wall for an Orange Gel. Go north into a dead-end corridor, ring, and the east wall has a Life Bottle. Back south, then east to the other end and use your Radar for a second Orange Gel. Okay, back to the RC room, activate the ring, and use the warp at the north end of the room.

@ Chest 35: Apple Gel, Chest 36: Orange Gel, Chest 37: Life Bottle, Chest 38: Orange Gel @

Save at the MC if you like, then head west to the next room for a scene. You receive the BLUE CARD key item. Back east, past the MC, and into the eastern room. Here there are invisible blocks that become visible when, you guessed it, you use the Radar. Let’s ignore them for just a moment though, and do something else first. See the weird pedestal to the east? Use the ring then activate the pedestal to create a light bridge over the gap to the east. Go there and down the stairs to receive the RED CARD (I have been told this counts toward the all treasure chest title. No idea why, but I will include it so hopefully our count matches the internal one). Now back west over the bridge and deactivate the pedestal the same way you activated it (you need them all off to get another treasure later, plus, manners). Go south and push the block there straight south into the gap, then grab the treasure on the platform for an EX Gem Lv.2. This can go to whomever, but Raine’s Personal skill can be pretty great, and Genis’ isn’t bad. Now go north and pull the NE box out of the corner it is in, then search the spot where it was for a Mage Cloak for Genis. You may already have one if you customized it earlier, but if you didn’t have the White Silver available, here you go. Push the block the rest of the way south to fill the other gap and continue south over your new walkway.

Kill the soldier and use your ring to check the pod-looking thing on the left. You find a White Silver (hey, we were just talking about you!). Now go SE, kill the other soldier, and check the corner of the box thing he was leaning up against for an Omega Shield for Kratos. This thing is pretty cool because it causes him to regenerate in battle while he has it equipped. Activate the nearby pedestal and cross the bridge to discover the game’s first Refresher. Wish there were more of these! Anyway, kill the nearby sorcerer for a PURPLE CARD, check the pod near him for an Orange Gel, and activate the other pedestal to allow you to access another island with a Life Bottle. Might as well refresh yourself once more, then head out, remembering to deactivate the pedestals as you go, and exit through the door in the SW to find yourself back in the RC room. Use the warp pad once more and save at the MC.

@ Chest 39: RED CARD, Chest 40: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 41: Mage Cloak, Chest 42: White Silver, Chest 43: Omega Shield, Chest 44: Orange Gel, Chest 45: Life Bottle @

Now go to the warp pad to the north and activate it to be teleported to the next phase of the dungeon, a series of identical rooms and warps with plenty of enemies and treasure. Any sparkles you see that I do not specifically mention are actually alarms that start a fight (With regular enemies. You don’t fight the alarms. That would be weird). This place is a bit confusing, so follow these steps to get all the treasure:

• Go to the west warp, use the Radar to find a Melange Gel, then use the warp.
• In the next two rooms, use the north warp. You’ll end up back in the Refresher room, and if you were an energy conscious player and turned all the pedestals off behind you earlier you will now have a spiral staircase to climb so you can claim the Panacea Bottle at the top (I know, I was expecting something better too). Go back downstairs and through the warp.
• Go to the southern warp, grab the nearby Apple Gel, and use said warp.
• Use the west warp, the south warp, grab the Life Bottle nearby, then warp back using the same one you just used.
• Use the north warp, grab the Orange Gel near the west warp, then use the west warp.
• Use the north warp, then the west warp. There will be an automatic fight, then a scene.

@ Chest 46: Melange Gel, Chest 47: Panacea Bottle, Chest 48: Apple Gel, Chest 49: Life Bottle, Chest 50: Orange Gel @

There is an MC (unlock with Memory Gem, as usual) to the east. There is a somewhat tough boss coming up next, so if you are running low on HP and TP, you can use the middle warp to go back to the first MC room and go east to visit the refresher. If you’re like me you’re a little sick of hearing whining about inferior beings at this point, so here is the quick warp path back: west, west, north, west, north, west.

When you’re ready, go through the north warp for a lengthy scene followed by a normal battle, then a boss battle. Between the two you’ll acquire a PASS (if you did this before returning to Palmacosta you will receive this after the Kilia fight instead).

BOSS: Magnius
HP: 8500, Weakness: None, Resists: Fire, Minions: 1 Bowman, 1 Whip Master
Kill the minions ASAP, then concentrate on their boss. He’s a bit annoying because he has a couple unblockable moves. You’ll have to learn to dodge back when you see him powering up. Other than that, just use your guard tech or dodge when he casts spells and let Raine keep you in fighting shape and this guy should go down without too much difficulty.

There will be a bunch of exposition, then you are free to move again. You can choose, at this time, to go ahead and cross the mountains into the next area. I like to go for the Water Seal next, however, so that is what the guide shall do. If you happen to have enough money to bring your total number of Poison Charms up to 4 (4000 per), that would be really useful against the next boss. You can buy them in Palmacosta from Cocao (and tell her about her daughter, I guess). Either way you’ll want to go the HoS nearby. During your travels you will likely get a skit, and another one when you exit an area back into the overworld.

^ Justice and Strength, Someday ^

* House of Salvation*
Note that you CAN skip this until later, like after you recruit Sheena if you want her to get affection for the event. If so skip ahead past Thoda Geyser to crossing Hakonesia Peak and come back here later. If you do want to do this part now, run inside and speak to the priests for a choice:

# “I’ll go get it.”: Colette+120, Genis+60, Raine-120, Kratos-60, Sheena+120; or “The problem is the geyser.”: Colette+60, Raine+180, Kratos+60 #

Either way make sure you head to Thoda Docks at the beach to the SE next.

*Thoda Dock*
Not much to do here except greet the puppy(!), rest upstairs for 100 gald, and rent a boat from the girl downstairs for 200 gald. Well, I say “boat”, but...

Dogs: 6

*Thoda Geyser*
Climb on up and check out the geyser. There’s a dog to the left. If you’re looking for the SPIRITUA STATUE (and Genis is at least level 11 and has learned Icicle) approach the SE side for a really easy mini-game. Win or lose you get the statue, but it will determine how your Affection is changed:

Dogs: 7

# Succeed at geyser-jumping: Colette+180, Genis+180, Raine+180, Kratos+180, Sheena+180 (Even if she is not in the party); or Fail at geyser-jumping: Changes based on who saved you (highest Affection character saves you):
• Colette: Colette+120, Genis-60, Raine-60, Sheena-60
• Genis: Colette-60, Genis+120, Raine-180, Sheena-60
• Raine: Colette-60, Genis-120, Raine+120, Sheena-60
• Kratos: Kratos+120, Sheena-60
• Sheena: Colette-60, Genis-60, Raine-60, Sheena+120 #

Once you have it, wander around out here for just a bit to get a skit. When you’re ready, examine the pillar on your right to open the way to the dungeon.

^ Tower of Salvation ^

& 183. Adulocia, 184. Amphitra, 150. Float Dragon, 164. Green Roper, 146. Octoslime, 142. Starfish, 075. Water Element &

Note that many of the enemies in here do water damage, and the Float Dragon can poison, so equip those Poison Charms if you got ‘em! Also, do NOT let yourself get caught between two Green Ropers or you’re gonna have a bad time. Finally, you can steal Mermaid Tears from Octoslimes, though with some difficulty. These are used for Customization later on.

This place is pretty small, but there’s a lot of back and forth to make it seem bigger. Follow the path the only way you can go and you’ll come upon a chest with one of the Mermaid’s Tears I just mentioned. Continue down the rest of the stairs and go through the door in the SW. You’ll see a big monument with an ewer and a set of scales and flame symbols on either side. That’s your clue that the little pedestals beside them are unlit torches, so blast them with the Sorcerer’s ring to unlock something elsewhere. Sitting just behind the northernmost pillar on the eastern wall is a chest containing an EX Gem Lv.1, and if you go between the pillars you’ll end up on a balcony in the next room with a couple of chests bearing White Silver and Orange Gel. Go back west into the monument room, then back north out the door through which you originally came.

@ Chest 51: Mermaid’s Tear, Chest 52: EX Gem Lv.1, Chest 53: White Silver, Chest 54: Orange Gel @

Go to the east side of the chamber now and use the RC to let the Sorcerer’s Ring shoot a spout of water, then grab the two chests of a Circlet and a Life Bottle. After that, exit via the SE doorway. Go south down the steps, then east, grabbing the two obvious chests for a Stun Bracelet and yet another Circlet. Also kill the enemy on this level for the Memory Gem. Now go south down the steps and west all the way to the next room. Here just push the tall block east into the slot under the doorway, then go all the way back to the upper monument room.

@ Chest 55: Circlet, Chest 56: Life Bottle, Chest 57: Stun Bracelet, Chest 58: Circlet @

Once back up at the top of the monument, use the Sorcerer’s Ring to fill the little pot on the scales with water, then... go all the way back down again. I told you there is a lot of back and forth to create artificial length in this dungeon. Once down there, fill that pot as well, and the path to the boss will be opened. Back at the top. So make your way all the way up one last time, make sure you’re all healed up and properly equipped, save, and go use the warp pad... unless you want a couple skits first. Then wait around for ten minutes (again, not in a menu or in battle) until they show up, one after another.

^ Seal of Water, Get Bored Before Lloyd ^

BOSS: Adulocia
HP: 10000, Weakness: Lightning, Resists: Ice, Water, Minions: 2 Amphitra
This boss took me forever to beat the first time I played this game, but that’s because I was doing the Eternal Apprentice, I Hate Gels!, and Friendship First challenges and was silly enough to come here before fighting Kilia, so Lloyd did practically no damage to her. Anyway, as usual, take out the minions first, because they’re annoying and will mess up your combos. The boss has powerful attacks and magic, but thankfully the former is easily blocked and the latter dodged. Still, she can drop you fast if you mess up either, so make sure Raine is ready to heal you back up and watch out for the bubbles! Oh, the Lighting Tiger Blade Unity Finisher can do a ton of damage to this boss, by the way...

Just like with the Fire Seal, you’ll be fully healed both after the boss and immediately after leaving the dungeon, so if you’re not yet completely sick of the enemies here you can take the opportunity to level a bit. If this was your second Seal then you'll get a skit on the overworld; if you went and did another seal across the mountains first you'll get it then.

^ Getting Bored ^

*Palmacosta*
Sleep at an inn, now or sometime soon, for another skit. A new mini-game has opened up here, Orienteering. To play, talk to the guard in the SW corner of the main plaza.

^ Sleepless Night ^

Orienteering
Starts: After Palmacosta Ranch and Kilia fight; Requires: Full party

The guard will give you a clue to where you have to go in the town to find the next clue. That clue will send you to the next one, etc, until you finish by returning to the guard. Most of the clues are pretty obvious, but if you have trouble you can easily find the answers with a quick search online. The prize is a title for Lloyd if your time is under a minute. Make sure Lloyd’s Personal EX skill is equipped and just hope your clues happen to be conducive to a short run. Took me three tries, I believe.

! Lloyd: Palmacosta Pro (Int+2, Eva+2, Acc+1) !

While you’re in town and if you have some extra gald, you may want to pick up an extra Battle Staff and Rapier for later Customizing, but it’s no big deal if you don’t. When you’re done, it’s time to head north to cross the mountains at Hakonesia Peak (and give the old coot the SPIRITUA STATUE while you’re passing through, if you have it; doing so will nab you a skit once you leave his cabin).

^ Angel Language ^

*Overworld*

& Road: 090. Archer, 089. Dragon Rider, 085. Soldier, 094. Sorcerer, 083. Thief, 178. Velocidragon, 087. Warrior, 092. Witch; Grass: 137. Giant Beetle, 089. Dragon Rider, 139. Grasshopper, 116. Harpy, 178. Velocidragon, 172. Wyvern (rare); Forest: 137. Giant Beetle, 139. Grasshopper, 009. Insect Plant (rare), 003. Marcroid, 004. Minicoid, 129. Woods Worm; Beach: 148. Fish, 153. Sea Jelly, 142. Starfish &

WARNING! There are two rare monsters in this area, the Wyvern and the Insect Plant, and both are quite strong for this point in the game. My first time through I twice ran into a Wyvern when I was hurt/underleveled/not ready and got wiped out. Later fights against the Drake in the Coliseum taught me the proper tactic to fight the things (stay under it at all times!) but it can still easily blast your stupid AI allies and if you’re doing Friendship First a single KO is as bad as a game over. Rare monsters can only be encountered in Large creature groups (the ones with legs), and while I have found no statistics online, my personal guess based on experience is that they have somewhere around a 1/32 chance of showing up. I saw some posts stating that only stationary monster groups could be rare, or had a better chance of being rare, but at least for the Steam version the former is completely untrue and the latter seems to be as well. May you find rare monsters when you’re looking for them, and not when you are not!

Alrighty, our next destination is right next door nestled in the mountains to the west (and just a tad north) of where we come out. Go there now and welcome to the city of Asgard, the town of three inns. (Speaking of which, you should get a skit when you sleep at an inn in this area.)

^ Human Ranch ^

*Asgard*

& 180. Windmaster &

If you go up the stairs at the town entrance, the first door on the left is the grocery store:

$ Gale – Asgard $
Pork 120
Beef 140
Chicken 120
Juicy Meat 200
Beef Strips 80
Cabbage 60
Lettuce 80
Mushroom 60
Potato 50
Onion 60
Radish 60
Carrot 60
Barley Rice 60
Panyan 70
Roll 70
White Satay 200
Red Satay 200
Black Satay 200
Egg 50
Cheese 60
Kelp 40

Next door is a cave of no interest to us, and next to that is the weapon/armor/customization store.

$ Typhoon – Asgard $
Masamune 1500
Slicer Ring 1380
Duel Star 1180
Gem Rod 1550
Steel Sword 1380
Hydra Dagger 2200

$ Cyclone – Asgard $
Ring Mail 1800
Fine Guard 900
Mage Cloak 1500
Feather Robe 920
Iron Helm 1200
Iron Gauntlet 1200
Kitchen Mittens 1000
Paralysis Charm 4000

$ Hurricane – Asgard $
Osafune – Mumei + Black Silver
Sinclaire – Masamune + Black Silver + White Silver
Mystic Ring – Slicer Ring + Beast Fang
Falling Star – Duel Star + Beast Hide
Earth Rod – Battle Staff + White Silver
Earth Dagger – Hydra Dagger + White Silver + Mermaid’s Tear
Silver Sword – Steel Sword + Beast Fang + Black Silver
Iron Guard – Leather Guard + Black Silver
Mage Cloak – Cloak + White Silver
White Robe – Feather Robe + Magical Cloth
Yayoi – Feather Robe + Magical Cloth
Gold Circlet – Circlet + Magical Cloth
Iron Gauntlet – Leather Glove + Black Silver

Grade Exchange:
Beast Fang 5.0
Magical Cloth 10.0
Black Silver 10.0
White Silver 10.0
Beast Hide 8.0
Mermaid’s Tear 15.0
Grab Bag 30.0

I suggest you buy a Hydra Dagger, 2 Ring Mail, 2 Iron Helms, and an Iron Gauntlet. Not necessary quite yet, but you will definitely want 2-3 Paralysis Charms when you can afford them, too. Remember you can sell your extra Fangs/Hides/Cloth for 1000 apiece if you are running low on funds!

You’re probably low on Black Silver, so some of those pieces of customized equipment, including upgrading Lloyd’s weapon, may need to wait unless you want to spend some GRADE. If you are grinding like I do you probably have plenty of GRADE to spend on materials, but if you don't, or don't want to spend it, none of this stuff is mandatory. I had plenty of Magical Cloth, Beast Fangs, and Beast Hides, plus a few pieces of White Silver and Mermaid’s Tears (the latter stolen from Octoslimes). If you don't have at least three Mermaid’s Tears, I’d say hold off on the Mystic Ring, because we’ll be taking a hike soon to collect stuff and will find a Customization shop with something better (then again, Beast Fangs are easy to get, so maybe do both?). The second Mermaid’s Tear is for upgrading Raine’s staff, also to something better than what is available in this town, and the third is for an Earth Dagger here for Kratos. If you have only the one Mermaid’s Tear from the chest, I’d suggest the dagger. I also craft a Gold Circlet for Raine and a Falling Star for Genis, and don’t bother with an Iron Guard or a White Robe because you’ll find both in a dungeon soon. If you have the materials and feel like it, you can craft a Yayoi for later use.

Outside and down the stairs you’ll see a dog and next to it the item shop.

Dogs: 8

*Whirlwind – Asgard $
Apple Gel 100
Orange Gel 200
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Holy Bottle 200
Dark Bottle 200
Magic Lens 10
Stone Charm 4000

Only after you’ve got the Paralysis Charms should you think about getting Stone Charms. Head down the steps and up the path, then up the long set of stairs going north into the next screen.

While Raine blabs on at the top of the steps, go around the ruin to see a scene. After the hilarity is over, you’ll be back in the main part of town. Now head east to the next screen, have Colette greet the dog, then go upstairs and enter the house on the right. Once that scene ends, you may want to head back to the town entrance to save at the MC in the cheap inn, then up the long stairs to the dais again.

Dogs: 9

BOSS: Windmaster
HP: 10000, Weakness: None, Resists: Wind
This thing hits hard and attacks fairly fast, but that’s all it really has going for it. Just use the usual strategy of keeping it occupied with a blocker while Genis and maybe Kratos cast (non-wind) spells and Raine heals and you should be fine. Attack only when it’s staggered by a spell already for safety’s sake.

After the fight you wake up in the expensive inn, the Cool Breeze. Head back to the house you visited on the east side of town to receive the MAP OF BALACRUF and have Raine rejoin. The game will kick you out, but go right back inside and inspect the phonograph to learn how to make Meat Stew from the Wonder Chef. This is a good one, giving your party a physical damage boost at the start of the next combat, and limited mainly by how much (cheap) kelp you can carry.

When you reenter the main part of town you should get a skit, and at any time between now and going to the Asgard Human Ranch, sleep again at this inn and Kratos will offer to train you again (only if you did the first training scene in Palmacosta):

^ Leave it to Me ^

# Kratos Training 2: “Nah, I’ll pass.”: Kratos-60, or “Yeah, I’ll go.”: Kratos+180 #

After that it is time to leave this town and go exploring!

*Overworld*
First of all let’s go to the nearby crossroad and visit the local HoS so that we can say hi to the cute doggy on the east side. That’s all there is to do here. Moving on...

Dogs: 10

Okay, see how the mountain range at the NE tip of the continent forms a sort of arc? Well, there is a Skit Point on both sides of the apex. I’d say just go straight north from the HoS until you hit those mountains and you’ll see one glowing just a tiny bit to the east of you:

# “I see.”: Raine+60, or “Don’t try to console me.”: no change #

Now follow the mountains west, keeping them on your right side as they curve north. You’ll soon come to a little pass allowing you to go east into the interior of the arc, then turn SE and go a bit to find another point.

# “I’ll just leave her alone.”: no change, or “What’s wrong?”: Colette+60 #

Now go back west through the mountains and you should see another Ranch looming ahead of you. We’re not ready to go there yet, so turn SW back toward the road. Once you reach it you should see a town on the water ahead of you. Why don’t we stop in and say hello?

*Luin*
Not much to do here at the moment except one of our favorite past-times: shop! Go west from the entrance and the second building on your right is the weapons/armor/custom shop.

$ Fighting Spirit – Luin $
Rapier 1300
Duel Ring 1140
Duel Star 1180
Battle Staff 1150
Steel Sword 1380
Chain Mail 960
Fine Guard 900
White Cloak 800
Feather Robe 920
Leather Helm 500
Gold Circlet 1000
Bracelet 400
Leather Cape 400
Poison Charm 4000
Paralysis Charm 4000
Stun Bracelet 4000
Rabbit’s Foot 2000

$ Fighting Spirit – Luin $ (Yes, they’re both called Fighting Spirit)
Masamune – Rapier + White Silver
Osafune – Mumei + Black Silver
Sinclaire – Masamune + Black Silver + White Silver
Duel Ring – Chakram + Beast Fang
Slicer Ring – Flying Disc + Black Silver
Mystic Ring – Slicer Ring + Beast Fang
Duel Star – Nova + Beast Fang
Falling Star – Duel Star + Beast Hide
Gem Rod – Battle Staff + Beast Hide
Ruby Wand – Gem Rod + Mermaid’s Tear
Steel Sword – Long Sword + Beast Fang
Hydra Dagger – Stiletto + Beast Hide
Earth Dagger – Hydra Dagger + White Silver + Mermaid’s Tear
Silver Sword – Steel Sword + Beast Fang +Black Silver
Iron Guard – Leather Guard + Black Silver
Mage Cloak – Cloak + White Silver
White Robe – Feather Robe + Magical Cloth
Yayoi – Feather Robe + Magical Cloth
Gold Circlet – Circlet + Magical Cloth
Iron Gauntlet – Leather Glove + Black Silver

The real winner here is the Rabbit’s Foot. We won’t be able to obtain these again for some time (other than the expensive and random Grab Bag), so I suggest you definitely buy two of these before you go to the Asgard Human Ranch. They’ll be really useful for stealing and... other stuff we’ll get into when a certain character joins you later on.
Severed lagomorph paws in hand, leave the store. If you go south across the dock you’ll come to the item shop which sells absolutely nothing new so I’m not even going to bother typing it out. Do visit anyway, however, and examine the weird thing to learn Seafood Stew from the Wonder Chef. This is similar to Meat Stew, but buffs defense instead of offense. Go to the screen to the west (from either the first screen or the screen with the item shop), and you’ll encounter a certain familiar assassin:

# “You’re actually pretty nice.”: Raine-60, Sheena+120; or “You’re kind of cute.”: Colette-60, Sheena+180 #

*Overworld*
Once she leaves there is nothing left to do in this town, so go back east and exit the way you came in. Now look straight north, on the western side of the mountain. Does that mist-shrouded silhouette look familiar? It’s a Monument! Go activate it, then loop around the east side of the mountain and go north. You’ll pass a big tower on your left, which will be significant later. For now, make sure you are dismounted near the tip of the land here and you’ll find a chest with an EX Gem Lv.2.

Now go straight south, past Luin, until you hit the cliff face. Turn west and follow the cliff until you can’t go any further, then dismount and grab the Skit Point:

# “That’s true.”: Kratos+60, or “You’re no fun.”: no change #

If you don’t have extra Mermaid’s Tears, or just don’t feel like facing extra danger for some exploration in a higher-level region, go ahead and skip to the Balacruf Mausoleum. Otherwise, head back east until you can go north again. Do so, past Luin again, and west over the bridge. Enemies are more powerful on this side of the river (watch out for the cockatrice, as it can petrify you):

& Road: 090. Archer, 089. Dragon Rider, 085. Soldier, 094. Sorcerer, 178. Velocidragon, 087. Warrior; Grass: 123. Cockatrice, 089. Dragon Rider, 137. Giant Beetle, 139. Grasshopper, 096. Ogre, 178. Velocidragon, 172. Wyvern (rare); Forest: 123. Cockatrice, 137. Giant Beetle, 139. Grasshopper, 009. Insect Plant (rare), 129. Woods Worm; Beach: 148. Fish, 153. Sea Jelly, 142. Starfish, 144. Tortoise &

Turn north immediately after the bridge and you’ll automatically dismount when you cross it. You’ll see a Skit Point on the beach ahead, but first grab a treasure chest on the grass for a Technical Ring. What this little accessory will do is nudge the character toward T-Style techs. It won’t do anything if the character has four S-Style EX skills equipped, but if it’s two and two the ring will break the tie. You’ll find one for S-Style soon enough. For now go get that Skit Point:

# “It’s probably useless.”: no change, or “You’ll get better eventually.”: Raine+60 #

Go back south and follow the road west. In fact, follow the continent all the way SW until you reach the bridge that will take you back to the Izoold area and check the beach nearby for another Skit Point:

# “Yeah.”: no change, or “No.”: Genis+60 #

If you are low on gels, you can always head back down to Izoold and play some more Emote Bubble. Note that this is where you would have entered this continent had you chosen to take the Hard Path instead of sailing to Palmacosta. Now go back north and, when you can, turn SE through the gap between the mountains. On your left you’ll see a sort of dirt trail up the side of the mountain, but we’re not going there quite yet. First go south until you are just about to the coast (but not on the beach) and follow the mountain on your left so you go east and NE until you find the Monument in its little nook. One last Skit Point to grab for now, go back to that path you saw earlier (actually the town of Hima), and go a bit west and north onto the raised land next to the mountain. Follow this east through the forest all the way to a little dip in the mountain just NE of where Hima lies on the other side of the mountain, make sure you dismount, and here you will find the Skit Point:

# “Whatever.”: no change, or “I don’t dislike you.”: Kratos+60 #

Okay, back west, south, and east to enter Hima.

*Hima*
The music here is amusing. Go east and south to the town’s only building, the inn. Examine the kettle to learn the recipe for Risotto, which is... okay. Outside there is a dog for Colette to name, and on the inn’s right side is the only merchant.

Dogs: 11

$ Crimson Canyon – Hima $
Apple Gel 100
Orange Gel 200
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Holy Bottle 200
Magic Lens 10
Osafune 1950
Amber Cloak 1800
Cleric’s Hat 900
Tartan Ribbon 1600
Pretty Mittens 800
Leather Cape 400

Nimble Rapier – Rapier + Brass + White Silver
Stinger Ring – Slicer Ring + White Silver + Mermaid’s Tear
Ruby Wand – Gem Rod + Mermaid’s Tear
Armet Helmet – Iron Helm + Beast Hide
Red Shield – Omega Shield + Black Silver

If you’ve been buying up Paralysis Charms and Rabbit’s Foots, you probably are low on cash, so it’s not a big deal if you can’t afford to outfit everyone here. If you do have lots of gald you’ll want an Amber Cloak (Well, maybe. It has higher defense, but a worse Int bonus than the Mage Cloak. Your call.), a Cleric’s Hat (you’ll get one in a dungeon soon, though), 2 Tartan Ribbons, and 3 Pretty Mittens (the extra Ribbon and Mittens will be for someone who will join in a bit). We came here for the crafting, however. A Stinger Ring (you’ll find one of these, but not for a while), Ruby Wand, and 2 Armet Helmets (you’ll find one later, but the materials aren’t exactly rare) are in order. Even if we had extra Black Silver at this point, I’m not certain the Red Shield’s extra defense is worth losing the regeneration from the Omega Shield. Moot point unless you skipped ahead to the Mausoleum and grabbed some, however.

Go around behind the inn and up the ramp to meet another dog, and up to the top if you want a cool sight and a bit of foreshadowing. Once done, it’s time to head out and head all the way back to Asgard. Once you reach the crossroad with the HoS, head east out to the big island across the bridge. Rather than follow the road straight up the middle, keep to the northern coast and you’ll find a chest with a Strike Ring just after the mountain range starts. Now go east between the mountain ranges and along the road until you come to the Balacruf Mausoleum.

Dogs: 12

*Balacruf Mausoleum*
There is a dog who already has a name, but it can’t hurt to have Colette speak to it anyway. To the west there is a treasure chest half hidden behind a man. Treasure even before the dungeon starts? Score!

@ Chest 59: 1800 Gald @

Approach the obvious entrance and you’ll automatically find your way inside.

& 136. Arachnid, 069. Gargoyle, 116. Harpy, 191. Guardian: Lightning, 185. Iapyx, 066. Melting Pot, 226. Resolute Assassin, 041. Skeleton, 076. Wind Element &
(The Gargoyles are your source of both Black and White Silver. Steal the former, they can drop the latter. Remember to equip Colette with those Rabbit’s Feet to aid the success of Item Thief.)

Let’s start by going west and encountering an annoying trap. The holes in the floor are probably a giveaway, but if you run near them spikes will pop up. You can either try to walk very slowly across so they don’t trigger, or run up close, wait for them to go up and back down, then run across really quick before it can reset. Kill the enemy on the stairs for a Memory Gem, then push the block south off the edge of the landing. You can light the torch on the north wall here to read a plaque with a clue to a puzzle later in the dungeon, but I’ll tell you the answer anyway, so don’t bother if you don’t feel like it. Same goes for all the plaques in this place. Back downstairs, push the block onto the button to stop the wind if you want (it just lets you read another plaque to the east), then go all the way east where you’ll be able to unlock the MC and collect a treasure.

@ Chest 60: Beast Fang @

Go west a bit and north through the corridor of easy-to-dodge smashing traps. Then it’s west up the stairs, north, and east past the traps. Keep going down the stairs, then push the block on the button if you like. Go north for a pair of chests, and south for another one.

@ Chest 61: Iron Guard, Chest 62: Blue Ribbon, Chest 63: Beast Hide @

If you want to read the final plaque, go back west past the traps, south, and east to the point just north of the trapped corridor. Afterwards or otherwise, light the torches on either side of the door to open it, then use the RC to allow the Sorcerer’s Ring to blow wind. Now go through the door to the north for a scene with Sheena (I really like her theme music) and the dungeon’s big puzzle. Pinwheels? Yes, pinwheels. You must activate them in a certain order to solve the puzzle.

1. Red, Green, Yellow, White, Blue to reveal a treasure chest with an EX Gem Lv.2. Stop them all.
2. Blue, Red, Yellow, White, Green to reveal another chest, with a Blue Ribbon. Stop them again.
3. Red, Yellow, Green, White, Blue to unlock the door to the boss. Examine the door to open it.

@ Chest 64: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 65: Blue Ribbon @

At this point I like to run all the way back to the point just east of the entrance and save, because you’re about to face two boss battles in a row without a chance to save between (you are healed, though). There are two skits to be had starting after ten minutes in the dungeon, so wait for those if you want them. When ready, go through the northern door in the pinwheel room.

^ Test in Ruins, Traps in Ruins ^

BOSS: Iapyx
HP: 14000, Weakness: None, Resists: Lightning, Wind
This fight is like a cross between Adulocia and the Windmaster. Iapyx’s feather attacks HURT, so try to block almost constantly while your spell casters blast him with Angel Feathers/non-resisted elemental spells. Note that he floats, too, so low attacks will miss him outright. Once again, Raine should be healing nigh constantly, and if and when the boss casts a spell either dodge it or use your guard tech. Unfortunately there are no handy charms to protect against wind damage, though Raine has her Feather Robe, so you’ll just have to play smart. You’ll be healed completely after the battle and Colette will learn Holy Song.

Now make like you’re going to exit the Mausoleum, and as soon as you go east after the trapped corridor you will face another boss:

BOSS: Resolute Assassin
HP: 4500, Weakness: None, Resists: None, Minions: Guardian: Lightning
She uses the same tactics as before, just stronger, so you should do the same.

Okay, you know the drill for these Seal dungeons: once you leave, Colette will have a dizzy spell and you’ll camp and be healed completely, so feel free to run around earning gald and experience first. Once you’re done, head back to Luin, though if you managed to steal some Black Silver from Gargoyles you may want to stop by Asgard to make some cool equipment first. You can also see a few skits; make sure you see them all before entering Luin if you want them. (Also note if you came here and did the Wind Seal before the Water Seal these next events will be delayed until you have done all three.)

^ That's Enough, Assassin with Kind Eyes, Colette Not Cold (have to be west of Luin to get this, where the stronger monsters are) ^

*Luin*
This is why we can’t have nice things. You leave for five minutes and someone throws a rager and wrecks the place. Go west along the north path to the fountain screen. Here you’ll get a scene and Sheena will automatically gain a chunk of affection:

# Auto: Sheena+180 #

If this boost is enough to put Sheena in the top three then she’ll join you now. If not, you’ll have to wait a while longer. Either way, it’s time to head to the Asgard Human Ranch. In case you forgot, it is located NNE of Luin on a little forest-covered plateau. You get a skit right after seeing Sheena, whether she joins or not, another a bit after that that can also be gotten if she joins later, and finally one that pops up only on the overworld, only if she joins now, and only before entering the Human Ranch for the first time.

^ Tragedy in Luin, Corrine's Happy Too, Let's Make Them Pay! ^

*Asgard Human Ranch*
You’ll automatically fight an evil sorcerer and a pair of spear(wo)men, then pull a Star Wars/Wizard of Oz to get inside. First head east into a gap in the crates to find a chest with a Beast Hide.

& 107. Evil Sorcerer, 100. Spearman, 098. Whip Master &

@ Chest 66: Beast Hide @

Now go north and down the stairs, and in this room go through the NW door. There will be a long scene. When you gain control again, grab the nearby chest for a White Robe, then head south and west to find an MC. From here go west and around to the raised platform. Kill the soldier up here for a Memory Gem, then open the chest for an Iron Bracelet. Then go north for a scene that will end with you outside. Head back to Luin.

@ Chest 67: White Robe, Chest 68: Iron Bracelet @

*Luin*
There will be a scene with a choice:

# “All right.”: Colette+180, Genis+180, Raine+120, Kratos+60, Sheena+180; or “No!”: Kratos+180 #

After the scene Sheena joins you if she did not do so earlier. Take a moment to equip her how you like, then go east to the next screen and talk to the man next to the destroyed building. If you saw the first two training sessions with Kratos, you will now get the opportunity for a third:

# Kratos Training Three: “No, it’s okay.”: Kratos-180, or “Yeah, you’re right.”: Kratos+180 #

When finished leave town through the west side. As you are leaving Sheena will suggest you go to Hima, but we have a couple things to do first. (By the way, I tend to set Sheena’s Strat settings to the same as Colette’s). You should see another skit around now.

^ Truth About Exspheres ^

*Overworld*
Let’s get some titles!

! Lloyd: Comboist (TP+1, Str+4, Acc+4) If you haven’t already, now is a good time to shoot for that 30+ hit combo. Find a strong opponent, wait for Kratos or Sheena to start a combo and jump in at the end to start one of your own, then start a Unity Attack at the end with a multi-hit finisher. If you're overleveled it can actually be harder because the enemies die too quickly. In my latest playthrough I didn't get this until the boss guarding the Light Seal, so don't worry if you cannot get that combo count high enough just yet.

Sheena: Combo Conductor (HP+1, Str+3, Acc+3) Give Sheena the Lv.1 EX Skill Taunt and get into a fight with a couple Giant Beetles, or even go cross the bridge south of Hima and find some even weaker enemies. Control Sheena and set the order to Reserve so everyone else just holds position. Now taunt until you can make a Unity Attack that will hopefully be strong enough to destroy the enemy. Rinse and repeat until all the enemies are dead. Do this one after Party Comboist, by the way, since they overlap.

Sheena: Indecisive (HP+1, Def+2) Super easy, just control Sheena and start to run, but cancel it, three times in one battle. Make sure you cancel it before you actually run if you want Brave Soul later!

Sheena: Party Comboist (Str+2, Acc+2) Just like Combo Conductor, but you only need two Unity Attacks and then you can finish the fight normally. !

If you are not going for Brave Soul you can also get Sheena’s Chicken title now, but I’ll describe that later. On to Hima!

*Hima*
Enter the inn and speak to the woman on the stairs, then go outside and up the mountain to check out the grave. After a scene you receive the DESIAN ORB. Go back to the entrance of the town and speak to the man standing there. Agree to accompany him and you will be teleported back to Luin. Now head out and trek back to the Human Ranch for a second round. Along the way you should get two more skits:

^ Kratos... angry?, Lloyd's Parents ^

*Asgard Human Ranch*

& 219. Energy Stone, 107. Evil Sorcerer, 218. Kvar, 081. Raybit, 100. Spearman, 098. Whip Master &

You'll get a skit as soon as you enter, so watch that if you like. Examine the boulder to find a way inside and automatically fight a group of Desians. Watch the scene, then you’ll have to make two teams of three. The first team must always include Lloyd and will face the majority of combat, including a very tough boss. The other team will only face minimal combat, so don’t worry about leaving it underpowered if you want to take your favorite characters. Your choices used to affect how they feel about you in the original version of the game, but not in this one. Just in case you are using this guide with the original GameCube version for whatever reason:

^ The Power of Exspheres ^

# Everyone on Infiltration Team: +60; Everyone on Deactivation Team: -60, except Kratos, who gets -180 #

My personal recommendation, if this is your first time through, is to take Kratos and Raine with Lloyd because they will be the most useful against the boss. Also note that there are a total of three skits available here, but two are mutually exclusive with the third. If you took my advice you'll get the third one, requiring both Kratos and Raine. If you want the other two you must take Colette, and the third party member does not matter. Either way you must spend the requisite ten minutes not in a menu or battle to see them.

^ Kind Heart, I'm Sorry, Restless ^

Directly to your south is a Refresher and west of that is an MC. Head through the NW door into the next screen. Go north all the way up for a Cleric’s Hat, then back south and west. Up the next corridor for Pellets and Lamellar Leather, then back south and examine the machine on the left to disable the cranes. Go back to the room in which you started, save if you like, and head through the west door. This room should look familiar. Use the RC to increase the range of your Sorcerer’s Ring, then head south. You need to get onto the conveyor belt and shoot the glowing orbs in the middle through the gaps in the machinery. It isn’t very hard to get the timing right. Go around to the other belt and do the same thing to shut them down. Go up the stairs on the left, up the stopped conveyor belt, up yet more stairs, and right to grab a chest behind the belt. Now just head through the door on your left. In this room jump on the warp and you will be switched to the other team.

@ Chest 69: Cleric’s Hat, Chest 70: Pellets, Chest 71: Leather Lamellar, Chest 72: EX Gem Lv.2 @

Use the Refresher and save if you like, then head through the SE door for an automatic fight with some Evil Sorcerers. Exit to the south, then go east among the crates where you will need to push and pull some boxes to allow you access to the door in the NE corner. Go north to grab a Card of Earth, then activate the nearby teal tile. Head through the western door for another forced Evil Sorcerer battle, then go through the SW door for a Stun Charm and another teal tile to activate. Return to the room you in which you just freed the prisoners and exit to the south this time. Go either east or west and north, fight the Raybit and activate the tile on which it was sitting. Then go all the way around and do the same on the other side. You will go back to the other team now.

@ Chest 73: Card of Earth, Chest 74: Stun Charm @

You can run back to the Refresher if you need to. When you’re ready, equip all three of your characters with Paralysis Charms if you have them (you’re in for a much rougher ride if you don’t), save, and go through the warp. Scene, boss, yada yada yada.

BOSS: Kvar
HP: 10000, Weakness: None, Resists: Lightning, Minions: 3 Energy Stones (resist all elements)
As usual, kill the minions first. Pretty standard boss tactics, though if he starts hovering get the heck away because he is about to do a really powerful, unblockable attack. Overall this is a very tough fight because all the enemies attack rapidly, Kvar hits HARD, and all of them like to interrupt Raine when she is trying to cast her healing spells. So, yeah, standard tactics, but it may take a few tries to actually succeed. And if you didn't equip those Paralysis Charms like I told you to, there is a decent chance one or more of your characters will get zapped and just stand there for a while.

*Asgard*
You’ll wake up in Asgard. Go to the east side and enter the door on the bottom right of the lower tier. Go through the door on the upper right and speak to the man to receive the FIGURINE BOOK and six Pellets. I would suggest just ignoring this until New Game+ so you can carry thirty of each pellet type at a time. If you rest at an inn you can get a skit, though you can put this off a bit since you're currently all healed up. Your call.

^ Born to Save the World ^

Okay, wondering what ever happened to the fake Chosen group from earlier? You can go up the steps to the dais where you fought the Windmaster for a scene with the Imposters.

# “Well, all right.”: Colette+180, Genis-60, Raine-120, Kratos-120, Sheena+120; or “No.”: Colette-60, Genis+120, Raine+180, Kratos+120, Sheena-60 #

Did you enjoy that? How about another? Go to Balacruf Maulsoleum and there will be anther scene, though this one has no actual effect. Note that you can also put these scenes off until... well, for most of the game, actually. You can come back here with every recruitable party member in tow to get affection gains or losses for the lot of them. There are another couple scenes you can get later too, but only if you have seen these two first. Anyway, this is the earliest you can see them, but they are available for a good long time if you want to wait.

We CAN go break the Light Seal now and complete the annoying Friendship First challenge, but that will bar us from getting several skits so I will direct you along a different route. If you don't care about the skits you can skip ahead to Hima and the Tower of Mana now if you like and get Sheena's summons after.

Our next destination is Lake Umacy. Go to Luin and follow the road SE a ways. About halfway to the HoS you’ll spot a bunch of forest to the east with a lake and few distinct trees. That’s our target. You'll likely get a couple more skits along the way.

^ Avenge, Chicken or the Egg, Too Hot (cook a meal after a battle with Colette), What's EC? (Okay, this is the earliest this one can show up apparently, but it involves being on the overworld map for a LONG time. The FAQ says ten minutes, but I swear it took me more like thirty. It can be viewed anytime between now and when you get ready to leave for the Tower of Salvation.) ^

*Lake Umacy*
Watch the scene and learn you have to return to the Water Seal at the Thoda Geyser. That’s about it for now. Leave and go south to Hakonesia Peak, leave to the south, then go further south to the HoS. Here turn SE and go through the gap in the mountains to the coast and return to the Thoda Docks to grab a washtub ride over. There should be a skit just after leaving the Lake, another just before you reach the docks if you have fought at least 200 battles, and a third that can pop up here or on the island itself; just get it before you use the warp to reach the Seal again if you want it.

^ Lloyd's Bad Habit, The Pursuit of Strength, Sheena Afraid of Failure ^

*Thoda Geyser*
Everything is as you left it, so just enter the dungeon, go down the multiple sets of stairs, and exit south. Save your game, equip Poison Charms on the party you’re going to use for the boss fight (Sheena must be one of them), and teleport to the Seal.

& 196. Undine &

BOSS: Undine
HP: 13000, Weakness: None, Resists: Ice, Water
Standard tactics except that she is more of a caster than a melee fighter, so be ready to dodge or guard tech more than physically blocking.

Once you’re finished, head back to Lake Umacy. There are another couple of skits along the way, and a third if you stay at an inn.

^ Summoner Sheena, The Truth, The First Pact ^

*Lake Umacy*
Watch the scene complete with allusions to virginity and receive the UNICORN HORN. Raine automatically learns the super helpful Resurrection (well, it will be helpful after the Friendship First challenge is complete), and earns the Grand Healer title. Next it is off Luin (and the expected skit along the way).

! Raine: Grand Healer (TP+1, Str+2, Def+2) !

^ Do Goddesses Get Sick? ^

*Luin*
We are in Luin just as a shortcut to get to our actual destination, Hima. In the fountain (west) area you will find a cowardly man who will allow you to teleport straight to your destination (Hima) if you agree to go with him, much like the priestess in Palmacosta (only this one is two-way!). Do so now.

*Hima*
Just go to the front of the inn and watch a short scene. You will receive the TOWER KEY. Teleport back to Luin (you’ll have to exit the town and reenter to make the man appear), then go north to that big tower you saw before, the Tower of Mana.

*Tower of Mana*
Examine the door to enter, watch a scene, then choose someone to accompany Lloyd and Colette. During the first playthrough I recommend Raine, as always, but unlike at the Ranch we can change party members freely so affection is the main consideration for who you choose initially.

# Character chosen+60, All others-60 #

& 049. Grim Reaper, 063. Living Doll, 065. Living Sword, 046. Specter &
(White Silver both drops and can be stolen from Living Swords if you need any).

If you go back left you can change your third team member by speaking to them. There are several skits to get by spending ten minutes in the dungeon, but time spent in the main lobby does not count. Just get on those stairs and wait until they start to show up. Run back, change out party members, get back on the stairs until their skit shows up, repeat until done. There is one between Lloyd and every team member except Sheena, then one that appears when you switch teams but only if the second team has both Kratos and Sheena.

^ Splitting Up is Nervous (Lloyd + Colette), Splitting Up is Anxious (Lloyd + Genis), Hurry and Regroup (Lloyd + Raine), Difficult to Fight Separated (Lloyd + Kratos), Splitting Up is Worrisome (second group, Kratos + Sheena) ^

Now go east up the long staircase (the second enemy group bears the Memory Gem) and at the top you’ll find an Armet Helmet. Go north through the door for our first easy light puzzle. Use the Sorcerer’s Ring to burn the curtains covering the window on the north wall. Then push the mirror block left into the beam of light and then north until the door opens. Go through said door, save if you wish, then check the plaque to switch to the other team.

@ Chest 75: Armet Helmet @

If Raine is in this party, check the upper left bookshelf in this room to receive BOLTZMAN’S BOOK; if she is in the first party instead you will have to come back after the two teams meet back up. Either way head north now through the door. Another super simple light puzzle. The curtain is on the west side this time, so burn it, then push the mirror block into the light and left until something happens. Go north through the door. A more complicated, but still easy, light puzzle awaits you here. First burn the curtain on the west wall. Push the lower right mirror block up one space into the light, then right one. Now take the lower left mirror block and push it far north and east until it is situated directly to the right of the upper orb. Go back and grab the block that is just north of the first one you pushed. Bring that one west and north to any of the spaces between the two lower orbs, then keep going north until it is in line with the beam. Finally push the last block between the orbs and into the beam to finish the puzzle. Go north for an MC and three treasure chests, then north through the door.

@ Chest 76: Lunar Guard, Chest 77: Moon Robe, Chest 78: EX Gem Lv.2 @

Go to the NE part of this room for a chest with a Stinger Ring, then exit east, then south, then up the stairs. In the room at the top, exit west and open the chests for an Iron Mail and another EX Gem Lv.2. Now go left across the light bridge and you’ll switch to Lloyd’s team again.

@ Chest 79: Stinger Ring, Chest 80: Iron Mail, Chest 81: EX Gem Lv.2 @

Cross the light bridges and wend your way north until you meet up with the others. We don't want to break the Seal just yet, as we were actually just here for the Book. Backtrack to the entrance and grab BOLTZMAN'S BOOK from the upper left bookshelf if you did not do so before. Leave, go back to Luin (watching a skit along the way), and take the handy fast travel back to Hima.

^ Master Boltzman ^

*Hima*
Go to the inn and up the stairs for a scene. Now we could just run off to the Tower of Salvation, but there are some side quests we can do first.

*Luin*
You can spend up to 133,500 gald at this juncture to help restore Luin by speaking to Pietro on the east side. There is pretty much no benefit to doing so yet, however, so you might as well keep your money for equipment and come back later in the game.

*Balacruf Mausoleum*
Return to the Wind Seal to make a pact with Sylph, the Spirit of Wind, if you like. You can do this later in the game as well, though the boss fight will be raised in difficulty to compensate. I had to run around leveling for a bit before I could manage to beat this fight at this point in the game though.

& 208. Fairess, 206. Sephie, 207. Yutis &

BOSS: Sephie, Yutis, and Fairess
HP: 7320, 6480, and 6190; Weakness: None, Resists: Wind
These little fu- er, fairies are a pain. Since there are three of them you can’t just tank them and let your spellcasters attack from afar. They’ll flit all over and attack said spellcasters, ruining their concentration. For this reason you may want to leave Genis behind, as he’ll probably be interrupted too often to be useful. If you’re going for I Hate Gels!, however, you’ll need Raine and just hope she gets her heals off. Okay, strategy. Sephie gets in close with a sword and combos you, Yutis flits around and shoots arrows at your casters, and Fairess sits behind a shield and casts wind spells. I honestly can’t say which one is most annoying, but the spells can really hurt and Fairess has the least HP, so I usually go for her first. Once she is down I change my strat so that Kratos tanks Sephie and I concentrate on taking down Yutis. Finally Sephie goes down easy once everyone is focused on her. Good luck!

*Overworld*
There will be another skit if this was your second pact; obviously if you do them in a different order it will appear after whatever one you do second. You might want to stop by Asgard on the way to the next challenge and pick up a few pairs of Kitchen Mittens. Now go to Hima and head west, then south, over the bridge, and all the way to Izoold.

^ Just Another Pact ^

Enter Ossa Trail and you can either enter the cave to fight the Sword Dancer now, or do it on your way back. (Technically you can come back here after the Light Seal too, but who wants to make another trip out here? Well, me, apparently, as Dirk will give you some extra goodies if you talk to him after releasing all four seals. Stupid backtracking! But fighting Sword Dancer after the Light Seal would screw up a skit!) If you are strong enough to take on the Sylphs you are more than strong enough to face Sword Dancer, but I will put it at the end of this section because getting the Fire Pact first won't exactly take that long anyway. Continue up and over the trail until we find ourselves in the Triet Desert once more. Make your way to the SW corner and enter the ruins.

*Triet Ruins*
No puzzles this time, just make your way over to the Seal Room and get ready to rumble. There will be a skit along the way too.

^ It Just Got Hotter! ^

& 198. Efreet &

BOSS: Efreet
HP: 18000, Weakness: None, Resists: Fire
No, that HP is not a typo, this guy can take a licking. He also can cast the highest level fire spells, so watch out! You may actually contemplate not using Lloyd for this battle, since he currently has no way to gain fire resistance, and instead use Kratos with a Lid Shield (common drop from Soldiers, I usually have several by this point) and the ladies equipped with Kitchen Mittens. Either way, standard boss tactics apply: tank him with a melee type and let your casters sit back and do their thing, Raine healing. Those HP should be whittled away eventually, and all in all I found this fight much less difficult than the previous.

*Overworld*
Time to go back now, through the desert and over Ossa Trail. Rest and save in Izoold if you need to (in fact it is a good idea to rest until Colette's random Luck stat is high; I like about 120 range with two Rabbit's Foot accessories equipped), then back to the trail and through the cave to the back to finally deal with (since this is nearly our last chance) the Sword Dancer.

& 192. Sword Dancer &

BOSS: Sword Dancer 1
HP: 8888, Weakness: Light, Resists: None, Steal: EX Gem Lv.3
And, if you waited til this part of the game, it’s an absolute pushover. Just use standard tactics while Colette and Raine blast it with light magic and it will fall in no time; maybe even too quickly if you are having trouble stealing that tasty EX Gem! If it dies before you get the steal, it may be worth resetting to try again, as the Lv.3s are pretty nice at this point in the game, but it is certainly not game-breaking if you skip it. Your reward for winning is an accessory called the Yata Mirror that is actually really useful because it causes you to slowly regenerate both HP and TP, and another skit.

^ Elite from the Underworld ^

That taken care of, head back up to Luin via Hima, If you have not seen it yet, this is your last chance for a skit that triggers when staying at an inn when Sheena has fought at least 70 battles with you. In my latest file I ended up fighting a bunch outside Hima while actually controlling Sheena and getting her cooking skills caught up with the others. When finished head north and back to the Tower of Mana: it's time to get that last Seal. (Oh, just like with the Sword Dancer, our next boss has a steal, so you might want to ensure Colette's Luck stat is decent.)

^ Sheena's Nightmare ^

No need to split the party this time around, just run up either path until you make it back to the warp point. Now rearrange your party how you like (so long as it includes Colette, like the other Seals), and get ready for a boss fight. Equipping one character with your Stun Charm to protect against light attacks wouldn’t hurt. (Technically you could have gotten more from a Grab Bag, but at 30 Grade a pop that is almost certainly not worth it). When you are ready, use the warp.

& 186. Iubaris &

BOSS: Iubaris
HP: 16800, Weakness: Darkness, Resists: Fire, Light, Lightning, Steal: White Quartz
This guy is annoying in that he runs around a lot instead of staying still and battering on your meat-shield, but otherwise falls to the same tactics as other bosses. Note that you can steal a White Quartz from him, the only reliable means of obtaining this item in the game, so definitely go for it for your Collector’s Book. If you have any Black Quartz from most of the undead found in this game (I got one after fighting the zombie in the very first fight of the game!) you can use it to make your melee characters do major damage.

Colette learns Sacrifice (which I have NEVER used). She also FINALLY gets the awesome Friendship First title if you managed to keep anyone from being KO’d up until this point. Now it’s time to make your way back out of the tower. Can you guess what is going to happen when you leave the dungeon? And therefore what you can do before that? Good. Let’s move on.

! Colette: Friendship First (HP+3, TP+3, Str+3, Def+3, Int+3, Eva+3, Acc+3) !

*Overworld*
Did you notice that the last boss dropped a Brass? And do you remember that extra Rapier I had you pick up in Palmacosta a while back? I like to take this opportunity to teleport to Hima and craft a Nimble Rapier for Lloyd. Whether you do so or not, there are a couple quick things we can do now, namely titles and skits.

You should get two skits pretty quickly just being on the overworld after finishing the fourth Seal. Another one pops up when staying at an inn. Oh, and this is also your last chance to see that one on the really long timer, so if you have not got it yet and want to, you'll have to spend some time waiting on the overworld. Feel free to load up that Cheat Engine and put the game on 5x or 10x speed if you're impatient, just don't try to fight like that unless it is on auto-battle!

^ I Want to Save Colette, Are You Tired Genis, Why is Colette..., What's EC? ^

As for titles, if you were going for Friendship First and so avoiding letting anyone get knocked out, you now have three more titles you can grind out, one for Lloyd and two for Raine.

!Lloyd: Lone General (Def+2, Eva+3) You have to have at least three party members (including Lloyd) and get everyone but Lloyd knocked out. Once he is alone, change orders (aka change to Reserve, All Out, etc; the stuff we set up at the beginning). Issue four commands then end the fight to pick this one up.

Raine: Never Say Never (HP+5, Def+4) You'll want to put everyone on standby for this one as it will take a bit against weaker foes: Raine must be knocked unconscious and revived. Five times. In one battle. Obviously you cannot make use of Resurrect here, so that is five Life Bottles needed. Thankfully gald is more plentiful now than it used to be, so you can probably afford them.

Raine: Survivor (HP+2, TP+1, Str+2, Def+2, Int+2, Eva+2, Acc+2) Nice stats! Okay this one is simple in concept: finish a battle wherein Raine is the only party member left standing. Maybe unequip armor from the rest of the party before the fight so they drop faster? Just remember to reequip them afterward. !

If you are up for another long trek all the way back home, Dirk can give you some neat stuff. That's back south of Hima, across the bridge, over Ossa Trail, north through the desert, and to Iselia Forest right next to Iselia. Pass on through, beating up weak monsters for easy Grade along the way if you like, and go to Dirk’s house. Dad has some presents for you: an EX Gem Lv.3 (!), a Metal Sphere, an Onion(?), and an EXSPHERE SHARD. I definitely suggest giving the new EX Gem to Lloyd for his Add Combo skill (if you haven't already from Sword Dancer). Four basic attacks at a time is better than three! (Thanks to wizard in the comments for confirming that these can only be obtained after all four seals are broken. Would have been convenient to combine with the last section, but noooo. If you're not going skit-crazy and just finished the Light Seal in one trip then you can.)

That is just about everything we can do prior to heading off to the Tower of Salvation, with one potential caveat. In the Tower we will face three boss battles in a row. The first one is pretty easy, the second one is the hardest fight we have had in the game thus far, and the third is a scripted loss. That second fight is what concerns me here: you don't have to win it, the story continues even if you lose, but you CAN win, and get a decent prize for doing so. So, if you want to improve your odds for that fight you can do some grinding for experience here. In the video guide I got up to level 40 and the fight was still tough. Entirely optional however, so you do you.

*Hima*
Okay, climb up to the top of the mountain. After a scene the party will split up and hang around the town. Whomever you speak to first will get a bonus to affection:

# First person spoken to: +60 #

Also, if you’ve done all three training sessions up til now, be sure you speak to Kratos a second time and he’ll offer you one final go:

# “Naw, I don’t need it.”: Kratos-60, or “Please.”: Kratos+180 #

When you are all done chatting with people, speak to Colette and choose to end the day. In the morning there will be a scene in which you gain the ASSASSIN’S RING. Now save, switch Kratos to the cheapest weapon you have (NOT the Earth Dagger; I had a Stiletto), maybe unequip his armor and accessories if you like (in case you hadn't guessed, he will be leaving the party for a while. Any JRPG veteran knows the drill.) If you have extra EX Gem Lv.3s you might consider giving Raine one for Speed Cast, and maybe hooking Genis up with Magical, Guard Plus, and E. Guard (level 1, 2, and 3 respectively) so he gets the Blood Spirit compound skill which restores his TP every time he takes damage. I would suggest turning off all of Raine's spells from being autocast except healing, as you won't want her wasting TP in the upcoming fights (all three bosses are strong against Light), and maybe give her that Yata Mirror you got from the Sword Dancer to let her regen TP. You will likely be doing a LOT of healing if you want to win the first two fights.

^ Kratos and Noishe ^

Preparations complete, head back up to the mountaintop and after a scene you will get to choose with whom you will ride. If you guessed that this will earn affection, you’re one smart cookie!

# “I think Genis.”: Colette+60, Genis+60; or “I think the Professor.”: Colette-60, Raine+60; or “I think Sheena.”: Colette-120, Sheena+120 #

With some further ado, you fly to the Tower of Salvation.

*Tower of Salvation*
Just follow the completely linear path. Easy. There is a scene in which Colette learns Judgement, but that doesn’t matter much right now since you can’t use her in the next couple fights. Speaking of which:

& 216. [Redacted], 245. Remiel, 237. Yggdrasill &

BOSS: Remiel
HP: 16000, Weakness: None, Resists: Light
Does he look like a thing that rhymes with witch? Why yes, he does. And he is. As long as you are not underleveled, this guy is a pushover. He can be annoying when he teleports away and looses a volley of arrows to disrupt Raine and Genis, but really he is nothing you haven’t seen before. Certainly nothing compared to Sylph or Efreet. The next one is a doozy, though, and you get no time to rest, so make sure you cook a good meal between...

BOSS: Redacted
HP: 22500, Weakness: None, Resists: Light
First of all, you don’t need to win this fight for the game to progress. Which kinda sucks if you are like me and insist on beating him on your first playthrough because if he beats you then you have to wait through all the scenes and exposition to load, unless you just alt+F4 and restart the game. Anyway, tough fight, but overall you use the same general tactics as for most bosses. He hits HARD, he hits FAST, and he is difficult to stagger. You do get an Ex Gem Lv.3 if you beat him, though, so it might be worth using an All Divide to make the fight a little more fair. I had to do it on my low-level game and just barely squeaked out a win.

BOSS: Yggdrassil
HP: 40000, Weakness: Darkness, Resists: Light
You don’t just not need to win this fight, you straight up cannot, so don’t bother wasting any items. Except a Magic Lens, of course.

Lots of scenes, of course, and when we wake up we’re back in the Sylverant Base where Lloyd was held prisoner way back when.

*Sylverant Base*
First of all, Remiel dropped a Rune Bottle. These neat little things are used to change or upgrade other items and accessories. And the wonderful thing I like to do with this one is change that Sephira we got from the Grab Bag back in Palmacosta into a Blue Sephira, which doubles the gald you earn instead of earning half again. Nice! You should get three skits while running around in here.

^ Lloyd Humiliated, Betrayer Kratos, Yggdrasill's Aim ^

& 105. Evil Warrior, 101. Foot Soldier, 081. Raybit &

Go east, north, and east down the stairs to the next screen. There is a vending machine right next to you for your basic item needs (and for the first time, Melange Gels for 500 gald apiece), and an MC a little way east. I’m sure you’ll wish to save, then go through the eastern door. In this room use the RC in front of you to shoot lightning again, then go up the steps to your SW, around and south down more steps. Our first goal is to get that gray block down. Push the western brown block west one space and pull it south one space, then go pull the other brown block north one, push it west until it is one space NE of the other, then push it south one space to finish your bridge. Now go up the steps and walk across the brown blocks so you can push the gray one east off the platform. Go back down and push the gray block three spaces up then all the way east into the little nook on the east wall. Now push and pull the two brown blocks north, east, then south to form a bridge between the two platforms in the SE. Go up the steps and across all three blocks to reach the two chests containing an EX Gem Lv.2 and a Straw Hat. Back down on the floor, pull the gray block back out and push it onto the blue tile to open up a stairwell to the north, just south of the RC. Final bit of setup, move the two brown boxes back west until they are both up against the west wall on the big square outlined in pink lights next to the stairs. Go back around and descend these stairs.

@ Chest 82: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 83: Straw Hat @

First thing push the gray block south into the water. Now go NW and shoot the pillar with electricity. Use the machine directly south of you and push the switch to lower a platform causing the two brown blocks from earlier to form a bridge across the water. Cross and go east to grab a chest hidden on the ground behind the big blue screen, then go around to the south side and shoot the pillar. Up the steps, use the machine to lower the water level. Go down the steps on the east into the area with the water and push the gray block west onto the blue tile, which will lower the gate. Shooting the final pillar will open the way out to the south.

@ Chest 84: Protect Ring @

You’re now back in the area in which you found yourself in beginning of the game, specifically the room you had to paralyze the robots to unlock the door. Go through the west door, then north at the first opportunity. There will be a fairly cool sequence and then you’ll end up at the top of Mt. Fuji, I mean, the Fooji Mountains.

*Fooji Mountains*
Okay, there are a LOT of skits that will show up in quick succession in this area. You can just wait in place until they stop coming, or take explore and take them as they come. Either way, when you are ready just follow the trail SE to the MC, then SW to the next screen.

^ They're Elves, I'm a Hypocrite, Flying, Angel Yggdrasill, Tethe'alla's Chosen, Kratos, Our Enemy, Don't Give Up (this last one requires you to reach the mountain's peak first) ^

& 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid &

Follow the linear trail all the way to the next screen, picking up an EX Gem Lv.2 along the way. Another linear path waits here until you reach a chest with a Cool Orbit, then hidden behind the large rock next to the cliff face on the east is a chest with a Black Onyx (seems a little redundant), and north in plain view is another with Card of Fire. Go south a bit and west at the tree to a chest with a Misty Robe, then back east and south to exit the area.

@ Chest 81: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 82: Cool Orbit, Chest 83: Black Onyx, Chest 84: Card of Fire, Chest 85: Misty Robe @

*Overworld*
& Road: 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid, 084. Rogue; Grass: 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid; Forest: 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid; Beach: 149. Seaspin, 143. Super Star, 144. Tortoise &

First up you should get a skit pretty much right away, and if you want another one just reenter Fooji Mountains and immediately exit again.

^ Angry Noishe, Lloyd Confesses His Love ^

Okay, new land means more chests, more Skit Points, and more Monuments. Let’s get cracking. Pretty much due south of the Fooji Mountains and almost to the southern mountains is a chest in plain sight containing Super Pellets. Now go east until you hit more mountains and follow them north for a Skit Point:

# “What’s wrong, Professor?”: Raine+60, or “Don’t know, don’t wanna know.”: no change #

Keep going north along the coast and you’ll come to a House of Guidance.

*House of Guidance*
Not much to do here. Unlike the HoS’s in Sylverant, the HoG’s are expensive to sleep at (600 Gald!). The man with the backpack has a Grade shop for materials, so that’s something.

$ Unnamed Grade Shop – House of Guidance $
Beast Fang 5.0
Magical Cloth 10.0
Brass 10.0
Metal Sphere 8.0
Grab Bag 30.0

*Overworld*
Back outside, look just a little ways SW of the HoG and you’ll see the Monument for this region sticking out of the forest. Activate it and ride in style for the rest of this exploration. Go west until you hit the road, then turn south until you hit another road and go west again; at the end of this road you’ll find an Anti-Magic Bottle. Now follow the mountains back south, a tad east, and back north through the forest. Just about at the north tip of the forest, hidden by the trees, you’ll find a chest containing a Reverse Doll. That’s it for now, so mount up, ride east a bit, and you’ll see a big city before you. Make sure Sheena isn’t equipped with anything important like your Blue Sephira before you enter, as she’ll leave you for a bit here, then enter.

*Meltokio*
You receive SHEENA’S LETTER first thing, then are free to explore. Well, not quite: as soon as you take a few steps into town there is a short scene to watch (poor puppy!). Then you can explore a bit. The inn is just to the east if you need it. To the west, on the next screen is the item shop. Oh, and there is a skit.

^ Tethe'alla, the Flourishing World ^

$ Belteon – Meltokio $
Apple Gel 100
Lemon Gel 1000
Orange Gel 200
Pineapple Gel 1200
Melange Gel 500
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Anti-Magic Bottle 1000
Flare Bottle 1000
Guard Bottle 1000
Acuity Bottle 1000
Syrup Bottle 1000
Holy Bottle 200
Dark Bottle 200
Magic Lens 10
Poison Charm 4000
Paralysis Charm 4000

Now that’s what I call an item shop! Don’t bother to buy anything unless you’re super low, though, because you’ll soon have a way to get a lot of free stuff. Back on the first screen, exiting east takes you to the slums which is currently useless to us. The recessed building in the NE is similarly unhelpful at the moment, so the only place left to go is up the grand stairway. When you reach the landing there will be another scene. Once that is over, head SE for the armor shop.

$ Trupelo’s – Meltokio $
Splint Mail 3000
Elven Protector 3000
Druid Cloak 2700
Misty Robe 2200
Straw Hat 1000
Striped Ribbon 1400
Gold Circlet 1000
Omega Shield 1600
Claw Gauntlet 1000
Lapis Bracelet 1400
Heavy Boots 3000

I’d buy two Splint Mails, two Elven Protectors, a Druid Cloak, a Striped Ribbon, three Claw Gauntlets, and four Lapis Bracelets (trust me).

Back outside, exit to the NW and you’ll shortly see the weapon shop on your right. The lucky cat statue becomes our favorite chef and teaches us the recipe for Steak, which is decent. There are both weapon and customization shops here.

$ Axios – Meltokio $
Nimble Rapier 2800
Ogre Sword 3000
Ray Thrust 3000
Cool Orbit 2250
Silver Sword 2600
Card of Fire 2700
Card of Earth 2400
Francesca 3200

$ Prucius – Meltokio $
Ogre Sword – Osafune + Brass + White Silver
Ogre Sword – Masamune + Brass + Black Silver
Ray Thrust – Stinger Ring + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Gale Staff – Ruby Wand + Metal Sphere + Black Silver
Red Shield – Omega Shield + Black Silver
Armet Helm – Iron Helm + Beast Hide
Druid Cloak – Mage Cloak + Magical Cloth
Lapis Bracelet – Iron Bracelet + Black Silver

I wouldn’t bother crafting anything other than the Gale Staff, since you can buy the rest and, especially with your new Blue Sephira, you can earn gald a lot faster than the Grade needed for more materials. I don’t bother to buy anything from the weapon store, as there are better pickings in the next town very soon.

The big building next door is the Coliseum, which won’t be open to us for some time. Instead return east and go up the next set of steps to the next screen. Go straight ahead and speak to the guards to be told you aren’t allowed to see the king. Gotta think of something else! Enter the building to the west, the church. Speak to the old priest straight up the aisle, then go back outside and approach the castle guards again. Welcome Presea to the party! Once you have control again, go either east or west to the next screen, up all the stairs and back the way you came but on the top level, then try to enter the double doors with the green-armored guard. There is a scene and a choice:

# “All right. That’s fine.”: Colette+120, Genis-120, Raine+120, Zelos+180, Presea-60; or “No, we can’t do that.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine-120, Zelos-120, Presea+120 #

Once you’re done, head out of the castle and back to the church. Speak to Zelos and welcome him to the party. Two new party members in five minutes, not bad, eh? I told you you’d need extra armor. Now here is why having Zelos in the party is great: as long as he has equipped his Personal skill (which he starts with), and is the party representative, any and every woman he talks to will give you free stuff. The quality of the stuff depends on his Luck stat, so equip him with the pair of Rabbit’s Feet and watch the Miracle Gels, Energy Tablets, and Rune Bottles roll in (If his luck seems low just rest at an inn to have it randomly reset. Save first if you like and reload til it’s really high for extra profit!). Plus you need to have him flirt with every woman in the game for a title anyway, so you have lots of incentive to get lots of free stuff. Oh, and did I mention each one will give you another item every time you enter the city? Yeah, that. Yay! Before we leave the city, let’s get started on this most noble of quests.

From the town entrance: Enter the inn on the right and speak to the woman wandering around the ground floor (1). Go upstairs and speak to the maid in the hallway (2), then enter the southern room and hit on both of the women there (3, 4). Leave the inn and go east a bit to find the woman standing in front of the street lamp (5), then exit east to the slums. There is a woman standing at the bottom of the stairs with her husband, but we don’t let a little thing like that bother us (6). Go north and up the semi-hidden stairs between buildings, up some more steps and another mostly-hidden stairway to get at the woman doing her laundry on the roof (7). Back to the paved part of town, then head north to the Research Lab. In here go around behind the counter to flirt with the receptionist (won’t work if you are in front of the counter, then she’s all business) (8), then head downstairs and try the purple-haired scientist (9). Exit the building, then head west and hit up the woman across the street from the item shop (10), then go around the building and get the woman standing there and the little girl wandering around (11, 12) (Age doesn’t stop him either. Zelos, you’re a creeper.). Back at the town entrance go up the steps and find on the landing a little girl (13), a young woman (14), and an old woman (15). West to the weapon shop! There’s a nurse outside the Coliseum, and a magician girl in purple and the receptionist inside (16, 17, 18). In front of the castle there is a noblewoman and a serving girl (19, 20). How about some holy booty? Let’s go seduce a priestess! There is one standing just outside the church, one just inside, and one over on the right side (21, 22, 23). Outside the church exit to the east now, to a screen we haven’t been to before, the wealthy district. There is a woman speaking to a man next to the first house on the left (24), one standing in front of the fountain (25), and one wandering in the far north corner (26) (see the next paragraph if you want to detour here for a recipe). When finished, exit back left. Reenter the castle and go left one screen, then up the stairs for a noblewoman (27). Enter the Crimson Room on the left and get the maid by the bed (28). Leave the room, then go east to the wall, south to the railing, and east to the next screen where we’ll immediately see another noblewoman (29). Go down two sets of stairs and enter the doors on the left to find the kitchen. In here are two serving girls and a little girl (30, 31, 32).

That’s it for women, but since we’re here let’s enter Zelos’ house (second on the left in the wealthy district), go upstairs and examine the suspicious present to learn yet another recipe, Fruit Cocktail. It’s a good thing there are lots of kinds of fruit, because this goes through it fast. You can stay at the inn (whether you need it or not) for a quick skit, but otherwise it's time to leave Meltokio!

^ Intellectual Hunnies ^

*Overworld*
New party members, you know what that means. Time to grab some easy titles! And since I’m doing titles, you might be reaching level 40 around here somewhere, so I’ll include those titles.

! Lloyd: Master Swordsman (HP+5, Str+5, Def+4, Acc+4) Reach level 40.

Colette: Tiny Angel (Str+4, Int+4, Acc+3) Reach level 40.

Genis: Warlock (HP+3, TP+2, Int+1, Acc+2) Reach level 40.

Raine: Professor (HP+4, Str+8, Int+4, Eva+2) Reach level 40.

Sheena: Acrobat (HP+2, Str+3, Def+2) Reach level 40.

Zelos: Cassanova (Def+2, Int+2, Eva+2) Just fight and win a battle with a party of Zelos and three females.

Zelos: Commander-In-Chief (TP+1, Int+3) Control Zelos and have him change Orders (All Out, Reserve) at least four times. He has to actually say a line each time for it to count, so listen up and make sure he isn’t interupted by being hit by an enemy or something.

Gleaming Knight (HP+3, TP+2, Str+2, Int+1) Reach level 40.

Zelos: Loudmouth (Int+3, Eva+2, Acc+2) Zelos has to say something fifty times in one battle. Yikes. I found the weakest group of enemies I could, put everyone else on Reserve, and had Zelos run up close to the enemies and try to cast First Aid over and over. They kept hitting and interupting him, and he’d say his line just about every time. Racked up fairly quickly.

Zelos: Tetra Slash (HP+2, Str+2) Same as Lloyd’s title of the same name.

Presea: Axman (HP+2, TP+1, Def+3) Reach level 40.

Presea: Fragile Shield (HP+2, Def+3) Have Presea’s guard be broken ten or more times in one battle. Easiest way to do this is to control Presea, put everyone else on Reserve, then run up to and turn your back on enemies before guarding. If they hit you in the back it automatically breaks your guard, so you’ll get ten times pretty quick.

Presea: Hunter (Str+3, Acc+2) I’m honestly not 100% sure. I got it easily by going to Fooji mountains, battling the first enemy group, leaving, reentering, battling the same group again, etc, until I had done it five times. Do not battle other groups in between or you break the chain.

Presea: Lone Girl (Def+2, Int+2, Eva+2) Just fight and win a battle with Presea and three males. !

Satisfied with your titles? Good. During that time you should have seen the following skits. If you have not seen them all yet and care to do so, wait around until they have both popped. When done, head NE of Meltokio to the Tethe’alla Bridge.

^ Presea's Job, Hunnies of the World ^

*Tethe’alla Bridge*
Just cross the bridge. It’s long. Along the way you can see four skits; as usual, wait around if they have not all triggered before you leave the area if you gotta catch 'em all. You could technically play the worst mini-game in the game right now, Red Light-Green Light, but since the title you get is rubbish there is absolutely no reason to do so now rather than at the end of the game when you receive both the title and a weapon. When you reach the other side there is another skit as soon as you reenter the overworld and another that shows up after hanging out for about forty seconds. When satisfied, just head north to Sybak.

^ Nicknames, Ozette and Colette, Happiness Charms, Sharp-nosed Spotted Jerboa, Similar, Tethe'alla's Architectural Technology ^

*Sybak*
In the first screen have Zelos hit on the woman standing in the center of the plaza and the one wandering around the perimeter (33, 34). Enter the inn on your right, speak to the pink-haired girl by the beds (35), then leave. There are a couple stalls north and a tad west:

$ Student Mart – Sybak $
Apple Gel 100
Lemon Gel 1000
Orange Gel 200
Pineapple Gel 1200
Melange Gel 500
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Syrup Bottle 1000
Holy Bottle 200
Dark Bottle 200
Magic Lens 10

$ Student Supplies – Sybak $
Ogre Sword 3000
Kotetsu 3300
Ray Thrust 3000
Mythril Ring 3400
Aqua Brand 3600
Battle Ax 3600
Pointed Hat 1300
Bridal Gloves 1200

Kotetsu – Osafune + Brass + Metal Sphere
Mythril Ring – Stinger Ring + Brass + Mythril
Gale Staff – Ruby Wand + Metal Sphere + Black Silver
Aqua Brand – Hydra Dagger + Brass + White Silver
Aqua Brand – Steel Sword + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Pointed Hat – Beret + Magical Cloth

I bought a Kotetsu, a Mythril Ring, an Aqua Brand, a Battle Ax, and three Pointed Hats. You can optionally grab a pair of Bridal Gloves for helping stealing, if you wish. I didn’t bother to customize anything, but if you happen to have an extra Beret lying around I guess you could make it instead of buying it to save yourself a little bit of gald.

The building next to the stalls is the library. Flirt with the librarian, the blonde girl at the foot of the steps, the brunette at the top of the steps, and the blue-haired girl in the SE corner (36, 37, 38, 39). Be sure to check out the magazine rack against the back wall to find the Wonder Chef and learn Fried Rice, another one I never used much. Now leave the library and exit to the next screen via the SW exit.

There is a girl by the water and one walking to the left (40, 41); now enter the Academy. Colette automatically earns the title Ill-fated Girl.

! Colette: Ill-fated Girl (HP+3, Str+3) !

When you gain control again, speak to the girl on your right (42) and exit the room. There is a woman walking out in the hall for you to bug (43), then go through the door all the way to the west. Enter the first door you come to for another woman (44), another in the next room (45), and yet another in the next (46). Then go back east and check the last door for another woman (47). Exit this room and take the east door. Enter the door in the back wall to find the cafeteria, the best food market in the game! First, however, there are three female customers for the Chosen to harass (48, 49, 50).

$ Cafeteria – Sybak $
Snapper 120
Tuna 100
Cod 110
Squid 110
Shrimp 60
Octopus 70
Strawberry 70
Banana 60
Grapes 70
Apple 60
Lemon 60
Peach 70
Pear 60
Melon 100
Pineapple 80
Rice 80
Barley Rice 60
Pasta 80
Panyan 70
Bread 70
Roll 70

$ Sunrise Cafeteria – Sybak $
Pork 120
Beef 140
Chicken 120
Tomato 60
Bellpepper 80
Cucumber 70
Cabbage 60
Lettuce 80
Mushroom 60
Potato 50
Onion 60
Radish 60
Carrot 60
Egg 50
Cheese 60
Milk 50
Seaweed 20
Kelp 40
Tofu 60
Konjac 60
Miso 60

Stock up for your favorite recipes, because we’ll soon lose access to this place for a large chunk of the game. Leave the cafeteria and go up the stairs on the right, chatting up the girl walking down them on your way (51) and go through the door on the left. There is a girl in the hallway (52), and one in the first and third rooms (53, 54).

If you need to buy anything else in Meltokio or the cafeteria do so now, killing rogues on the road to earn Magical Cloth you can sell for 1000 gald a pop if you need to. When you’re satisfied, talk to the man standing directly west of the stalls in Sybak’s plaza, then return to the Academy and speak with the scientist blocking the door. Go into the west corridor and enter the second door in here. After a short scene, exit again and go back out to the main lobby for another scene. Sheena rejoins and you receive the TETHE’ALLA MAP. If you wait a bit here there will be two skits as well.

^ Curiosity Towards the Unknown, Sheena's Spell ^

Leave the city and you’ll find that the enemies have changed, plus you should get a skit.

^ Hurry Along the Tethe'alla Bridge ^

*Overworld*
& Road: 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 139. Grasshopper, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid, 084. Rogue, 093. Sorceress; Grass: 122. Black Bat, 021. Egg Bear, 050. Ghost, 023. Hare, 019. Night Raid, 037. Zombie; Forest: 015. Boxer Iris, 138. Gold Beetle, 133. Mantis, 130. Tropical Worm; Beach: 149. Seaspin, 143. Super Star, 144. Tortoise &

To the bridge!

*Tethe’alla Bridge*

& 103. Cardinal Knight &

Run across the bridge and take on a trio of Cardinal Knights. Afterward everyone is back together again. There will be a skit once you hit the overworld and anther after about forty seconds; just make sure to get that second one before you go to the mountains.

^ Half-elves in Tethe'alla, You Changed, Too ^

We need to get back to the Fooji Mountains, but lets take a quick stop in at the HoG on the way, and earn a quick title for Raine.

! Raine: Crimson Rose (Int+4, Eva+4) Just fight and win a battle with a party of four females. !

*House of Guidance*
We’re just here to flirt. There is an old woman outside, and a priestess inside (55, 56). Now onward to the mountains.

*Fooji Mountains*
& 028. Chimera, 039. Demon, 050. Ghost, 223. Pronyma, 158. Slime, 037. Zombie &

The monsters here have definitely changed too! Note that the Demons can drop Brass and you can steal Rune Bottles from the Chimeras.

Just make your way to the top. It’s just as straightforward as the way down. Er, well, it’s windy and not straight at all, but you know what I mean. At the top save and get ready for a boss fight. One that you will want to have Genis participate in, if you are doing I Hate Gels!

BOSS: Pronyma
HP: 18000, Weakness: Light, Resists: Darkness
I think you know the drill by now, especially against an opponent with an exploitable weakness. Turn on Colette's angel spells and fry the fool.

And once you have defeated her, you can finally use gels in combat. Hurray

! Genis: I Hate Gels! (HP+3, TP+1, Str+3, Def+3, Int+3, Eva+3, Acc+3) !

With that done it is time to hike all the way back down and make your way to Meltokio. Along the mountain trail you should get two skits, and if you cook a meal on the overworld you can see a third.

^ A Girl Who Lost Her Heart, We're Alike, I Can Taste Again! ^

*Meltokio*
The guards tell you to shove off, but after a short scene you end up in the obligatory sewer level.

*Meltokio Sewers*
& 106. Convict, 074. Fake, 160. Giant Leech, 152. Jellyfish, 034. Sewer Rat, 035. Sewer Rat (Huge), 026. Violent Viper &

Poison charms are useful here. Anyway, follow the path and use the RC. Honey, I shrunk the party. Start by going up against the west wall, shrinking, and walking along the tiny ledge here to enter the rathole. Inside are some angry rats and a bag containing an EX Gem Lv.1. Exit the hole, go back along the ledge, and walk across the spider web to the east. You’ll need to enlarge to climb the stairs, then kill the rat at the top for a Memory Gem. Make your way around all the way to the north wall and you’ll automatically examine the locked door. When done, open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3 and go up the stairs. At the top continue north to find the trash compactor. Ignore it for now, shrink and enter the hole to the left of it to obtain a Great Ax. Use the machine, pull it three spaces south, then push it all the way west off the landing. Make another block and push/pull it through either of the holes in the southern railing. Make a third block and send it down the other southern hole. Now descend the stairs, go SW a bit at the locked door and descend another set of stairs. Check behind these stair for a hidden Spirit Ring (slow regen of TP), then shrink yourself and walk NE onto the little ledge, using the blocks you dropped as bridges. You’ll come to a little island with a crank. Grow back to normal size and turn the crank to unlock the door above, to which you should then backtrack and enter.

@ Chest 90: EX Gem Lv.1, Chest 91: EX Gem Lv. 3, Chest 92: Great Ax, Chest 93: Spirit Ring @

Go ahead and unlock the MC if you like, then head west and down the steps to the south. Shrink yourself and jump into the box in order to take a little ride. You’ll wind up next to another crank, so, y’know, crank it. This will open another door up near the compactor. Shrink yourself and jump across the box, then take the ledge across the water and make your way up to and through the newly opened door.

Hey look, another compactor! Make a block. Pull/push it to the walkway and all the way to, but not off, the corner. You’ll have to use shrinking and the spider web here to get around, resize, and pull it away from the corner, then shrink and cross the web again to get on the block’s left side. Push it all the way right and off the edge to make a bridge down below. You’ll want to return now to the MC room and descend the stairs just south of said MC. There is another hidden chest behind this staircase, this time with a Breastplate. Go to the NE corner of this landing and shrink yourself, then proceed further NE along the tiny walkway and turn NW when you get the chance, passing under a large walkway above. Climb some stairs to find yourself at a cage, into which you may gain access by shrinking and passing through the bars, then resize and simply open the gate from the inside. From here go back east and south to the MC, then out the door, back up the stairs, and out the other door to the second compactor.

@ Chest 94: Breastplate @

There will be a new spider web that allows you to proceed farther with your block. Do the same thing you did last time, but shove this one off the fourth corner instead of the second, where it will land in front of the open door of the cage. Gee, I bet you have no idea what to do next. Good job I’m here to tell you. Go all the way back down and push the block into the cage and a little indentation inside. Bet you didn’t see that coming. Anyway, a bridge will extend in the NW part of the room, but that’s not going to help us yet, so return to the second compactor.

Another spider web. Do the same thing again, but this time the block goes off the last corner. Make your way back down to the MC, then NE and up some steps to the landing on which you dropped the block. Push the block east and south through the gap in the ledge, then turn around, shrink, and search the hole in the wall before you in which you will find an EX Gem Lv.1. Go back out, back to the MC, and NW over the bridge you raised earlier. Go down the steps to the SE, shrink, cross, grow, turn the crank, etc. New door opens on the platform onto which you most recently dropped a block, so go there and go through.

@ Chest 95: EX Gem 1 @

Hey look, a chest! 2500 gald, to be exact. Follow the path down the stairs and around. Shrink and enter the hole hidden between the second and third pillars on the east wall for a Thunderbolt. Exit the hole and go to the north wall, west along the little ledge behind the “waterfalls”, then to the hole in the west wall to pick up a Card of Lightning. When you go further south there will be a short scene and a laughable fight against some Convicts. Afterwards climb the stairs and notice the chest on the right: it’s another Fake. This time you have access to elemental weapons and gems, so you’re not as reliant on spells as you were last time, but they are still the better option. Again, try to steal from it if you can. You’ll receive an All-Divide and an Elixer. Now just go up the rest of the steps and out into Meltokio.

@ Chest 96: 2500 Gald, Chest 97: Thunderbolt, Chest 98: Card of Lightning

*Meltokio*
Sheena suggests you go the Research Lab, but first let’s take a quick side trek into the slums to name a puppy that Colette was neglecting. He’s at the back of the second tier and his name is Chibi. Now go to the Research Lab and be told you need to wait until morning. Head back up to the high class district next to the castle (there will be another skit along the way) and go to the NE end where there is another dog to name. When done with that, enter Zelos’ home where we got the Fruit Salad recipe earlier to have a little slumber party. Weirdly, there is no Affection changes from this, so feel free to chat with folk in whatever order you like. Tell the butler you’d like to go to bed when you are done, and in the morning return to the Research Lab where you will acquire the WING PACK. Shortly after you should get a skit as well. Return to the sewer from whence you came; thankfully it allows you quick jump to skip the dungeon and bring you right outside the city. Now head to the Bridge.

Dogs: 13-14

^ Corrine in Danger, EC ^

*Tethe’alla Bridge*
Go through the gate to the SE for a scene, KUCHINAWA’S CHARM, and access to the EC watercraft. You should get a skit shortly after setting off. For another, return briefly to Meltokio and just wait outside the front gate until it pops up. There is another you can get around this point if Colette has been in at least 100 battles and Presea in at least 50 (I am not sure if there is a point when this one becomes unavailable). Finally this is when you get access to one of the most annoying-to-get skits in the game: anytime between now and entering Ozette for the first time, you must spend an HOUR on the overworld map WITHOUT sleeping at an inn. If you do sleep at an inn the timer starts over. In the video I don't bother with this until right before Ozette. When finished, go NE, paralleling the Bridge, dock at the, well, dock, and hoof it over to Sybak.

^ Two Chosen, Zelos' Power of Observation, Cute Ribbon, I'm So Tired ^

*Sybak*
There are two dogs in town, one just north of the inn on the first screen, and one down by the river on the west screen. When they are both properly named, head further west and enter the manhole to end up in the Academy basement where you can speak with Kate. Now return to the town plaza and speak to the girl in the center.

Dogs: 15-16

# “Who cares.”: Genis+60, Raine+60, Kratos-60, Sheena+60, Zelos+180, Presea+60; or “Yeah.”: Colette+60, Genis-60, Raine+60, Kratos+60, Sheena-60, Zelos-180, Presea-60 #

If you chose “Yeah.” above, you can further investigate by going to chat with Kate again. Before you leave, try to have at least five total Flare, Guard, Acuity, and Syrup Bottles (not five of each) for the purposes of training a title soon. Now leave town and follow the road NE to Goracchia Forest.

*Goracchia Forest*
First up is a fight with three more Cardinal Knights.

& 015. Boxer Iris, 103. Cardinal Knight, 227. Convict, 038. Ghoul, 051. Phantom, 013. Pumpkin Tree, 130. Tropical Worm, 043. Undertaker &

Note that there are three time based skits here: one almost right away, one after ten minutes, and one after fifteen minutes. As usual, time spent in battles or menus does not count.

^ Labyrinth Forest, Legendary Strategy, Best Strategy ^

Follow the path NE to the RC. In this “dungeon” it emits light with which you can drive back photophobic plants blocking your way, but you must first charge it by standing in patches of sunlight. Head east to the next screen, charge your Ring up to full in the sunlight, and grab the hidden chest just south of it for a Drain Charm. Now take the northern path and shine your light on the vines covering the chest; after a few moments they will part and allow you access to the Phoenix Rod within. Continue east to the next screen then turn south when possible. You will come upon another vine-covered chest in the SE corner that you can liberate for a Witch’s Robe. Now go WSW, turn SE, shine light to remove the vines blocking your way, turn SW and eliminate yet more vines, turn SE again, then due east to find another chest with vines that open when you stand next to them (no light required) and containing a Pretty Ribbon. Go back the way you came to the next path leading east and take that. Charge up in the sunlight before continuing on to the next screen.

@ Chest 99: Drain Charm, Chest 100: Phoenix Rod, Chest 101: Witch’s Robe, Chest 102: Pretty Ribbon @

The vines to the SE open if you stand next to them, but only conceal an enemy. Go NE then NW to find another chest, this one with an Angel Bracelet. Go SE and east to the next screen. Zap the plants and recharge in the sunlight, then keep going SE and whup the undead there for a Memory Gem. Go SW from here through some more proximity vines, then SE a tad and shine your light on the seemingly empty dome of vines. Inside you will find an enemy and a mysterious black chest you cannot yet open. Keep the location in mind though (or don’t, since I’ll tell you where to go when the time comes) because it pertains to a valuable side quest later on. Continue SE through some vines and to the next screen. Go ahead and unlock the MC here and save your game. Now if you return to the previous screen and head in a SW direction you will come across a stationary floating skull that is, you guessed it, the Sword Dancer, part II (only appears if you beat the first one before the Tower of Salvation). It is more than likely well beyond your ability to defeat it right now, but we’ll be back later to deal with this thing. Anyway, head south from the MC to the next screen and you’ll face a rather easy boss battle.

BOSS: Convict
HP: 12000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
He likes to flip around but has no magic. Just remember to block and go all out on him. He’ll fall quickly.

When you’ve mopped the floor with the con, you can wait a few moments for a skit, then just exit the forest to the south. (If you wait longer there is another skit, but you can also get that on the overworld before entering Mizuho).

@ Chest 103: Angel Bracelet @

^ Mizuho, Kingdom of Gold, Mizuho, the Mysterious Kingdom ^

*Overworld*
& Grass: 015. Boxer Iris, 138. Gold Beetle, 133. Mantis, 091. Ranger, 084. Rogue, 093. Sorceress; Forest: 097. Beast Ogre, 138. Gold Beetle, 133. Mantis, 130. Tropical Worm &

As soon as you exit the woods there should be another skit, and yet another after forty seconds. Head to the SW corner of this little hidden valley to find a Skit Point:

# “Okay.”: Sheena+60, or “What, to you?”: no change #

^ Pretty Boys Die Young, People of Mizuho ^

Now go NE a bit and enter Mizuho.

*Mizuho*
Our obligitory traditional Japanese-style village is quite small. It contains one shop, four women, one dog, and no inn! Enter the house directly to your NW and flirt with the woman in there, then exit and go further NW to flirt with the woman tending to the shrines (57, 58). Go back to the village entrance and go NE over the little bridge to flirt with another woman and a little girl (59, 60), then go NW for the dog and the shop.

$ Toyama – Mizuho $
Apple Gel 100
Lemon Gel 1000
Orange Gel 200
Pineapple Gel 1200
Melange Gel 500
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Mizuho Potion 1000
Magic Lens 10
Shiden 4000
Shuriken 4000
Spell Card 1350
Card of Water 1600
Card of Earth 2400
Card of Fire 2700
Card of Lightning 3500
Card of Wind 3800
Manji Seal 10000
Water Spider 5000
Drain Charm 4000

Kotetsu – Osafune + Brass + Metal Sphere
Shiden – Ogre Sword + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Mythril Ring – Stinger Ring + Brass + Mythril
Shuriken – Stinger Ring + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Gale Staff – Rudy Wand + Metal Sphere + Black Silver
Aqua Brand – Hydra Dagger + Brass + White Silver
Aqua Brand – Steel Sword + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Assault Dagger – Earth Dagger + Black Silver + Brass
Pointed Hat – Beret + Magical Cloth

Dogs: 17

Don’t bother buying anything quite yet though. We’ll get to that shortly. Speak to the ninja standing outside the central building to continue. Alternatively instead of speaking to him go through the front door, then, when back outside, inspect the wall next to him. There is no difference to the following scenes either way. Lloyd will gain the title Gentle Idealist.

! Lloyd: Gentle Idealist (TP+1, Def+4, Int+4) !

Say hello to your final party member, Regal. His personal skill gives you a 10% discount on purchases and a 10% bump on selling prices, so make sure that is equipped and purchase a Mizuho Potion, Shiden, a Shuriken, and a Card of Wind, and craft an Assault Dagger if one of the Demons in the Fooji Mountains dropped a piece of Brass.

Reenter the chief’s house and examine the washing machine to learn how to make Ramen. Wait around the village until you see four skits, the last of which, “Mizuho, the Mystical Village” earns a title for Zelos when watched.

^ Mizuho's Information Network, Small Knight, Reasons for the Shackles, Mizuho, the Mystical Village ^

! Zelos: Idiot Chosen (Str+3, Eva+3) !

All finished for now, head on out.

*Overworld*
There will be a skit after a short time here and another if you have Regal cook after a fight. Also Regal is in need of a few titles, and now that we have a full party we grab another one for Presea as well.

^ Chosen from the Other World, Chef Regal ^

! Presea: Associate (Def+3, Int+3) Just fight and win a battle with a party of Sheena, Zelos, Presea, and Regal.

Regal: Battle Artist (HP+5, Str+5, Acc+4) Reach level 40.

Regal: Potion King (Str+3, Def+3, Acc+3) In one battle use any combination of five Acuity, Flare, Guard, or Syrup Bottles on Regal.

Regal: Pratfall King (HP+2, Def+4, Eva+4) As Regal, get knocked down three times in one battle without perform an aerial recovery. (Easiest way IMO is to encounter some Boxer Iris and let them knock him down with their special move).

Regal: Testosterone (Int+4, Eva+4) Just fight and win a battle with a party of all male characters.

Regal: Way of the Jungle (HP+4, Def+3, Eva+3) Fight and win a battle with at least an eight level difference between Regal and the enemy. Unless you are playing a low-level game you’ll probably be significantly higher than the normal enemies you encounter and obtain this right away. !

When ready go through Gaoracchia Forest and take the eastern exit. (Note that within the forest we can find our old friend, Sword Dancer, revived and much stronger than before. The fight is pretty brutal at this stage of the game though, so I will cover it later). Cross the nearby bridge leading south and locate the village on the south side of the forest. Before you enter, make sure to unequip anything important from Presea, as she will leave you for a little while. Also note that this is your last chance to watch the "I'm So Tired" skit if you care about that.

*Ozette*
Begin by following the path up then take the steps down to the building on your left, the inn. Inside is a woman to flirt with (61) as well as a parrot statue that is revealed to be the Wonder Chef when you examine it. This time he teaches you the Tenderloin recipe before disappearing. Back outside there is an old woman to the north (62), a little girl wandering to the east (63), and a dog sitting by the armor shop. Speaking of which:

Dogs: 18

$ Tranquility – Ozette $
Breastplate 3400
Elven Protector 3000
Silk Cloak 3200
Witch’s Robe 2800
Cross Helm 2000
Pretty Ribbon 2000
Angel Bracelet 1600
Silk Gloves 1600
Drain Charm 4000

Shiden – Ogre Sword + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Shuriken – Stinger Ring + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Gale Staff – Rudy Wand + Metal Sphere + Black Silver
Aqua Brand – Hydra Dagger + Brass + White Silver
Aqua Brand – Steel Sword + Black Silver + Metal Sphere
Assault Dagger – Earth Dagger + Black Silver + Brass
Pointed Hat – Beret + Magical Cloth
Silk Gloves – Pretty Mittens + Magical Cloth

I bought a Breastplate, two Silk Cloaks, a Witch’s Robe, two Cross Helms, three Pretty Ribbons, and four Angel Bracelets. Leave the shop and go straight south to the next screen. You will be treated to a short but disturbing scene, after which you should leave the house and exit west (there will be a skit before exiting town). Our goal is just a few steps away.

^ Weird Guest ^

*Altessa’s House*
Enter the house and watch a scene. That’s it for now. Kinda seems like a waste of effort, doesn’t it? Back on the overworld there will be another skit.

^ Is Tabatha an Angel? ^

*Ozette*
On our way back through loop around SW once back in the village proper and climb the giant tree branch to see a quick scene and make a choice (note you could have done this after the scene at Presea's before going to Altessa's):

# “I understand.”: Raine+120, Zelos+120, Presea+180, Regal+120; or “How can you say that?!”: Colette+120, Genis+120, Sheena+120, Presea+180 #

There is a dog to name and an item/grocery shop to visit:

Dogs: 19

$ Nature’s Kitchen – Ozette $
Apple Gel 100
Lemon Gel 1000
Orange Gel 200
Pineapple Gel 1200
Life Bottle 300
Pork 120
Chicken 120
Tomato 60
Bell Pepper 80
Cabbage 60
Lettuce 80
Mushroom 60
Potato 50
Onion 60
Carrot 60
Strawberry 70
Lemon 60
Rice 80
Pasta 80
Bread 70

Okay, now exit the village the way we originally came in.

*Overworld*
There are four skits that can pop up before entering the mine. As usual, they should happen as you travel, but feel free to wait around if any are being stubborn.

^ Use Your Head, Dirk and Altessa, Homesick, Shackles ^

Go back toward the long bridge, but instead of crossing hike east through the woods. Our goal is that dock visible to the NE. Once there board the EC and sail north. We want to pass between the islands ahead and loop the map so we end up in the south (guess this world has no polar ice caps, huh?). If you look at the map to navigate, make for essentially the southernmost tip of the southernmost continent, at the end of the long, thick peninsula (I did not mean for that to sound dirty, I promise).

& Grass: 033. Basilisk, 134. Red Mantis, 128. Scarlet Needle; Forest: 033. Basilisk, 124. Red Bat, 134. Red Mantis, 128. Scarlet Needle; Beach: 154. Mermaid (rare), 151. Seahorse, 149. Seaspin, 143. Super Star &

Once you manage to dock, look east and you’ll see a Skit Point close by, so go visit!

# “Such a hassle.”: no change, or “Yeah, you’re right.”: Regal+180 #

Okay, now head pretty much due north and enter the cave mouth you’ll see ahead.

*Toize Valley Mine*

& 215. Auto Repair Unit, 166. Bacura (rare), 033. Basilisk, 212. Defense System, 160. Giant Leech, 214. Guard Arm, 213. Orbit, 124. Red Bat, 165. Red Roper, 060. Rock Golem, 162. Roller Snail &

This time we shake things up and have the boss battle at the beginning of the dungeon instead of at the end.

BOSS: Defense System
HP: 12000, Weakness: None, Resists: None, Minions: Auto Repair Unit, 2 Orbits
We’ve all fought a boss like this before. The Auto Repair Unit heals the other parts, so take that down first. It also revives after a while, so make it a priority to take it down quickly every time it does so. The Orbits are pretty much Raybits, and just as annoying, but frail, so take them down second. Finally, wail on the Defense System itself while avoiding the massive, crushing arms until the rest revive and you have to start the cycle anew. Not too difficult, really.

A couple of skits will pop up as you explore, so watch them as you like. Make your way in and turn on the control box to activate a moving platform. Get on the platform and face north. When you go by the arrow you will want to blast it with the Sorcerer’s Ring to make it change course. Once you make it onto the north ledge kill the rat thing for a Memory Gem, then ride the lift down (you can examine the door here for a short scene, but it doesn't get you anything). Go SE and loop north to find a Crescent Ax in a chest hidden behind the mine carts. Now go south and up the ramp to the west to find a Saint Rapier. Next NW to find yet another chest, this one with a Sand Saber. Go back down the ramp and SE to use the RC. Hey, Bomberman! They can hurt you, though, so watch out. Another skit should be available shortly after changing the ring. Go back up the lift and bomb the giant boulder to the west, then back down again and change the ring back to normal. Then you have to go back up the lift again, get on the moving platform, and shoot the arrow again to return the platform to its original course. That done, jump across the gap where the boulder used to be, back down the lift yet again, use the RC yet again, back up the lift one more time, jump the gap again, and finally ride the moving platform east to exit the screen. Got all that? Oh, and while it may not have triggered yet, there is an obligatory ten-minutes-but-not-in-combat-or-menus skit.

^ Mines from Ancient Times, Machines That Are Still Alive, Bomber Ring, I'm Tired of Mines ^

@ Chest 104: Crescent Ax, Chest 105: Saint Rapier, Chest 106: Sand Saber @

Run up and bomb the boulder, then check the chest in the NW for Iron Greaves. There are a bunch of boulders to blow up in this area, as well as three pits into which you can descend. The southern one has a chest with a Battlesuit. The Northeastern one has a chest with a Silk Robe, and the little thing wandering around is a Gnomelette. You’ll need to feed this guy a Potion (Palma, Mizuho, etc) aka booze before you go to the Temple of Earth later, so might as well do it now if you brought one along. The last pit is empty, by the way. There is an MC on the eastern side, and the way to proceed is to the NE.

@ Chest 107: Iron Greaves, Chest 108: Battlesuit, Chest 109: Silk Robe @

See the distinctive floor tile? When you step on it, it will release a boulder trap. Run ahead of it and duck into the little side alcove ASAP to avoid taking damage. Keep going around the corner and you’ll be confronted by a Bacura. Even if you’ve fought one earlier, this one is invincible and will damage you if you get close, so stay away. Lure it back the way you came, trip the boulder trap, and duck into the alcove. Watch the boulder take care of the problem for you! Now push the button around the corner to disable the trap (or trigger it and let it knock you off the edge for a shortcut at the cost of some hp). Go back to find another lift SE of the MC and take it down now. Proceed SE for a Thunder Cape and Super Pellets, then search the rubble left by the smashed Bacura to find the Evil Eye. This may seem like just the worst possible weapon for Colette ever, and for now it is, but this will be useful later on for another side quest. Go back up the lift and proceed to the next screen past the place the Bacura was guarding.

@ Chest 110: Thunder Cape, Chest 111: Super Pellets @

Proceed down the steps, east a bit, down more steps and a ramp to find an EX Gem Lv.3. Go back up and east across the bridge to another area where you can get your Bomberman game on. Blast the crates to reveal a chest containing INHIBITOR ORE. Now you’ll have to work your way all the way back out, but pause a second in the room where you fought the Defense System to pick up a couple more treasures: a Sage to the east, in plain view, and an EX Gem Lv.1 to the south, hidden behind a mine cart. You can also view a scene by sticking around here for a little bit. When finished, go ahead and leave and proceed back to Ozette.

@ Chest 112: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 113: INHIBITOR ORE, Chest 114: Sage, Chest 115: EX Gem Lv.1 @

^ You and I are... ^

*Ozette*

& 103. Cardinal Knight, 104. Commander Knight &

Unequip anything important from Colette. I’m sure you cannot guess why. As soon as you try to enter the village square you are attacked by a pair of Cardinal Knights and a Commander Knight. After the fight events transpire and you get to make a choice:

# “Of course.”: Genis+60, Raine+60, Sheena+60, Zelos+60, Presea+180, Regal+180; or “What do you think, guys?”: Genis+120, Raine+180, Zelos+180, Presea+60, Regal+60 #

You are given a chance now to quick jump to Mizuho, but we have another small event we can see here in Ozette and it’s not like it’s a long walk, so I choose no. Go the Ozette’s inn and speak to the woman standing inside to get the following choice:

# “I’m concerned about this.”: Colette+60, Genis-60, Raine+120, Kratos+180, Sheena-60, Zelos-180, Presea-60, Regal+60; or “It won’t do us any good to worry about it.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine-60, Kratos-180, Sheena+60, Zelos+180, Presea+60 #

There are also a couple skits we can watch here. One should show up very shortly after Presea rejoins no matter what, one can only show up if Genis has been in at least 100 battles and Presea in at least 50, and the last is automatic if you stay at the inn here in Ozette at this time.

^ Colette's Secret, I'm Not a Kid, Pray for Colette's Safety ^

Now go to Mizuho.

*Mizuho*
Go speak with the Vice Chief, then you’ll get the chance to chat with your wandering party members. It has no effect who you speak to or in what order. Proceed by approaching Sheena by the shrines in the NW corner. After Sheena has agreed to go the the Temple of Lightning you can see a skit by waiting in the chief's room.

^ Sheena's Real Name ^

*Overworld*
Return to the dock NE of Ozette and set sail to the island directly to the north. Don’t enter the tower yet, though! Wander around the island a bit until the “Poke Poke” skit shows up, and watch it to gain Presea the Paw Mania title. There are also six(!) other skits you can see at this point, so if you care you can wait around until you have seen them all. None of the others give titles however.

! Presea: Paw Mania (TP+1, Int+5) !

^ Poke Poke, Presea's Wish Tag, Wish Tag from Sacred Wood, When the Wish Comes True, Small Hope, Pact with Volt, Reminiscent ^

Now enter the tower.

*Temple of Lightning*
& 042. Gold Skeleton, 159. Gold Slime, 052. Lamia, 119. Lightning Bird, 073. Thunder Sword, 199. Volt &

First up there are four more skits that can occur in here before you fight the boss. The first one happens right away when you enter, another one shortly after that, a third one will only fire if Raine has the highest affection score in the group, and the last is the standard ten minutes in the dungeon fare.

^ Do Your Best!, Beautiful Mutual Trust, Born as a Half-elf..., Beware of Lightning ^

Go forward, avoiding the arcs of electricity, and go north up the right hand set of stairs. Activate the pedestal up here and now go back and up the middle stairs to deactivate that one. Deactivate the right pedestal again, activate the left one, and step on the button up the middle stair to open the way to the RC. Go use the RC to let you shoot blue lightning, then walk east as far as you can. See the blue blocks just north of us? Dodge the lightning to get next to them and blast them with your ring. With them out of your way, continue north and grab a Silver Guard. Now return to the middle pedestal and go around it, north, and into the next room.

@ Chest 116: Silver Guard @

Go either east or west up the stairs until you come to the top level with the central dais, the deactivated Seal. There are three blocks stacked upon it, blue, yellow, and red, from bottom to top. Blast the blue block and head back down to the ground floor. Blast the blue block in front of the doorway on the north wall, then proceed inside. Go up the stairs on the left side. Ignore the first blue block you see because it only reveals an enemy. Instead go up the stairs to the north and into the doorway. This room is pitch black except when lightning strikes, and if you get too close to an edge you’ll start to fall unless you mash the cancel button. It’s not too difficult to orient yourself during the lighting flashes, and it is extremely forgiving of the timing when preventing a fall, so you should be just fine making your way up the stairs and out the next door. Now go through doorway in the southern wall and east along the balcony in the next room. Blast the blue block to drop a chest, then activate the pedestal so that you drop as well. Open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3. Repeat the process to the west and open this chest for a Duel Helm. Run west and drop another chest for later, then go back east and do the same thing to grab a Thunder Sceptre. Finally, activate the pedestal on the left. Run along the wall to the east and enter the doorway for another dark room. Just run to an edge and allow yourself to fall to find yourself back in the bottom of the Seal room.

@ Chest 117: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 118: Duel Helm, Chest 119: Thunder Sceptre @

Go back through the north door. In this room the water at the bottom is no longer electrified, so go down there using the stairs on the western side. Deactivate the pedestal, then go up the steps on the right to find and use another RC. This one works like the last except the lightning is now yellow and breaks yellow blocks instead of blue. Return to the first room with the three pedestals and head west. There is an MC north of you and a couple of yellow blocks to blast to the south. Do so and grab the chest for a Shining Star. Now go back north to the Seal room and make your way up to the Seal itself by taking the western stairs and blasting the yellow blocks in front of the door here (we’ll be back in a bit). Blast the yellow block at the top. Only one left to go! Go down the eastern stairs and once more into a dark room. Make your way up and blast a yellow brick to drop a pedestal, then go back into the dark and let yourself fall. Go north into the room with the water once more and go east and north to activate the rod atop the machine. Proceed back up the stairs and up the other stairs on the left to open the chest we dropped earlier for an EX Gem Lv.2, then enter the doorway.

@ Chest 120: Shining Star, Chest 121: EX Gem Lv.2 @

Go back up through the dark room, then up the steps, east over the bridge, down some steps and east into another dark room. Make your way down and don’t miss the half-hidden chest with a Spirit Bottle under a walkway right after descending a set of stairs directly next to another set going back up. Once you are through the dark room head west and deactivate the pillar in order to activate the machine down below. Return to the dark room and go back through it and out again. Go up the steps and the stairs behind them and you’ll see what looks almost like scaffolding on the north wall. Fight the bird on the scaffolding for the Memory Gem, then proceed to the top level. Blast the two blocks on the far left, then go back down and start the machine to drop a chest. Go back up and smash the other two blocks on the top level, then the left blocks on the next level down and start the machine again. A boulder will come down and turn the bridge into a ramp, which you should descend and look north to grab a Battle Cloak from the chest you dropped earlier. Now go down the steps hidden behind the ramp, down the next set, and south through the doorway where you’ll find another RC for, you guessed it, red lightning. Now go back up, up the ramp, into the dark room, and fall.

@ Chest 122: Spirit Bottle, Chest 123: Battle Cloak @

Go south back to the first room, east, south, blast the red bricks, and grab the EX Gem Lv.3. Proceed back to the Seal room, up the western stairs, and into the doorway that was previously blocked by yellow blocks. Make your way through the last and most complex dark room, blast the red blocks, and open the chest for Power Greaves. Make your way back down, then up and around to the Seal where you should blast the final block. You’ll probably want to go save now, then return for the inevitable boss battle.

@ Chest 124: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 125: Power Greaves @

BOSS: Volt
HP: 24000, Weakness: None, Resists: Lightning
I’m sure you can guess that this guy uses lots of lightning magic, so Paralysis Charms and the Thunder Cape helps here. If you see a glowing circle around him get away or get ready to guard tech it; otherwise use standard tactics.

After the fight you will receive CORRINE’S BELL, and Sheena receives the Summoner Title. You'll also get a skit, and another one as soon as you leave the temple.

! Sheena: Summoner (TP+1, Int+3) !

^ For Depressed People, Thank You, Corrine ^

*Overworld*
Our ultimate goal is the little white dot in the archipelago in the NE (Don’t worry if you are low on health or items, as there will be a chance to heal and restock before you face danger here). The easiest way to reach it is to go at it from directly south of it: the islands are far enough apart here for a straight shot up to the dock. Enter the base when you’re ready.

*Tethe’alla Base*
You start in a room with Orochi, who will heal you completely any time you talk to him, a vending machine selling basic items in the SW, an MC, and an RC. Heal if you need to, buy items if you want, use the RC, and save for good measure, then head out to the south. Also note that there are two 'spend ten minutes in the dungeon' skits here. The first one also requires you to have used the sorcerer's ring (after the RC) at least once.

^ Tingles, Renegade's Technology ^

& Evil Warrior, Foot Soldier, Raybit &

This is the big, round room. We’ll come back here a few times. For now, head through the eastern door. Note the weird robot-looking thing emitting a white beam. That is this base’s incredibly impractical security system. Touching the beam will hurt you. Use the blue blocks that appear to block the beam so you can get past. The beams are emitted both vertically and horizontally. Don’t make the mistake of pushing a block so that you end up in the beam; believe me, it just makes you feel dumb, especially when you do it for the fifth time. Anyway, pull the block south and push it east to block the vertical beam so that you may continue east. At the end of the corridor enter the door. Within you will find one of three Commanders; you must beat all three of them to obtain the three parts of a password. Remember these parts, though if you forget them just speak with Orochi again and he’ll remind you. Anyway, beat this guy and exit the room again. Here maneuver the block to allow you to go west, then north past the beams and into the next screen.

There is a chest with a Silver Circlet just sitting there to your NE, so nab that. Afterward manipulate the block to get to the NW corner of this room and go through the door in the western wall there. In this corridor go straight north, up the stairs, and through the door. Now we are in the hanger and will have to go through several steps to obtain all the treasure. Start by grabbing the Silver Mail in the obvious chest up the stairs in the NE corner. Next go back downstairs and manipulate the two blocks west to form a horizontal line in the nook on the north side of the staircase. If done correctly, you can step onto the block from the large fourth step and claim a semi-hidden chest on the left for an Aqua Cape. Now see the two gaps along the northern wall? You’ll need to manipulate the blocks to fill these two gaps to form a solid walkway. Once you have done so, climb the steps to the south and go down the ones in the north to reach the walkway you just created and reach the chest for a Lavender. Now you must shoot the pillar from an angle to charge it up, which powers the lift.

@ Chest 126: Silver Circlet, Chest 127: Silver Mail, Chest 128: Aqua Cape, Chest 129: Lavender @

Pull one of the blocks out and push it onto the NE corner of the obvious lift pad. Stand next to it and activate the glowing thing to raise the lift. Push the block north onto the landing and lower the lift back down. You’ll now need to go all the way up and around by climbing the SW stairs, the NW stairs, run east a ways and down these stairs. Move left and grab the block so you can pull it east. You’ll need to get it all the way against the wall, then push it south behind the open chest so you can stand on it and zap the pillar here. Now go all the way back up and around, grab the other block, and move it all the way east to the lift you just powered up. Raise the lift and push the block up to fill the gap to the north so you can grab the Tomahawk Lance. But wait, we’re not done yet! Go up the western steps and all the way along the western wall to find a chest containing a Beam Shield. Go back south a bit and power the lift by zapping the pillar, then lower the lift (conveniently with a block already on it!) and manipulate this block to fill the gap on the east, allowing you to grab the EX Gem Lv.3.

@ Chest 130: Tomahawk Lance, Chest 131: Beam Shield, Chest 132: EX Gem Lv.3 @

Go ahead and exit the hanger for now (we’ll be back) and head south, then west. The purple soldier patrolling the north part of this room is our second Commander, so kill him for another part of the code. Go up the steps near him and shoot the pillar, then go back down and activate the console to lift a block up to where we’ll need it later. Now head all the way back to the big, round room by going east, east, south, and west. Feel free to stop in with Orochi to heal and save if you like. Back in round room we want to go through the western door, then turn north and go through that door. In here take the western branch and go through the door to find the last Commander and an EX Gem Lv.3. Now exit the room and head north into the next room. Defeat the Raybit here for a Memory Gem. Go up the stairs and east to where you should find the block you lifted earlier. Pull it west and push it south through the gap in the railing to disable a laser emitter blocking your access to chests below (the room that had the second Commander). Exit south, south again, and block the beam so you can access the two rooms to the west for an EX Gem Lv.2 and a Card of Ice.

@ Chest 133: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 134: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 135: Card of Ice @

Exit the room and go back to the round room. Visit Orochi once more if you want to heal and remind yourself of the completed passcode, then return to the room where you vanquished the second Commander by going (from the round room) east, north, NW, and west. Grab the two chests for a Lightning Sword and a Dragon Tooth. Go back out east, then north to the hanger. Unlock the MC and save, then move one of the blocks over to the eastern lift and ride it up. Push the block up to fill the gap at the narrow point so you can cross to the north. Now ride this lift up and get your team ready for a tough boss fight. I like to take two meatshields (include Lloyd if you are going for Brave Soul!), setting one to scatter because you’ll need to block two enemies at once, Genis for firepower, and Raine for healing. Equipping anything to protect against lightning and/or earth elements can be helpful as well. When you are satisfied, enter the passcode at the terminal: THE POWER OF THE STAR IS THE RADIANCE OF LIFE. Enter and fight.

@ Chest 136: Lightning Sword, Chest 137: Dragon Tooth @

BOSS: Yuan and Botta
HP: 16000 and 12000, Weakness: None, Resists: Lighting and Earth
Like the fights against Sheena earlier in the game, this is made tougher because you have two actual threats at once trying to disrupt your casters, so you need two blockers. They’ll both hit you with both quick physical attacks and lots of magic, so keep your block and guard tech fingers handy. My best advice is to concentrate on dropping Botta as quickly as possible while your other fighter keeps Yuan busy, then all gang up on him. The reward for this fight is your first EX Gem Lv.4, the Brave Soul title if you haven’t run from any fights yet (and used Lloyd in this fight), and the ability to fly!

! Lloyd: Brave Soul (HP+5, Str+5, Def+4, Eva+5)

*Overworld*
As he is the main character, as usual I like to give the first EX Gem of a given level to Lloyd. In this case the Ability Plus skill is awesome, allowing him to chain a second level one tech before going to level two. So, if you gave him Combo Plus, he now can do an impressive four regular attacks, two level one techs, then a level two and a level three all in one combo. If you get the right techs he can do over thirty hits all by himself!

Okay, we now have the freedom afforded us by flight. So many places to go, so many things to do! Well, first of all I’ll tell you to keep an eye out for the “Paw” skit (only appears if you got Presea’s Paw Mania title earlier) and watch it to gain a title for Regal. There are a few other skits you can watch by hanging around the overworld before going to save Colette (or by trying to enter somewhere you are not yet supposed to go like the Temple of Earth), but the last requires you to be completely broke: that's right, 0 gald! needless to say I often skip that one.

^ Paw, Common and Silly, Not the Time to Wander Off, Fight with Your Feet ^

! Regal: Paw Dandy (TP+1, Int+5) !

You start out hovering over a big circle of forest. Land and search the trees in the NW part of the circle to uncover a chest with a Sephira. Not as cool as it could be since we’ve had one since forever, but we’re completionists here, right? Now fly west and tad south, just west of the sandy peninsula to find a Monument. Yes, they’re not terribly relevant now that we can fly, but again, completionist. Go west of here to the next big peninsula at the SW corner of this continent and land to find a Skit Point (one of many to come):

# “Being the Chosen is tough, huh?”: Zelos+60, or “I see.”: no change #

Now go north over the mountains and Goracchia Forest, then east to the coast and you should see another Monument to activate. Go NW from here across the sandy area to locate another Skit Point:

# “What’s wrong?”: Genis+60, or “Stop daydreaming.”: no change #

Fly east to find the island with the Temple of Lightning, and land to find another skit point directly across the mountains to the north of it.

# “I see.”: no change, or “Oh there.”: Sheena+60 #

Keep going east and on the eastern part of the third island past the Lightning Temple you will find another Monument. Further east still you’ll find a medium-sized snow-covered continent which holds the city of Flanoir in the north. We have no need to go there just yet, but note the location. Okay, go to the little strip of land between the coast and the mountains in the SE part of this continent and land to find your next Skit Point.

# “Very unlike you to be brooding.”: Zelos+60, or “Whatever.”: no change #

Go back west now to the island just NE of the north continent and land on the tiny bit of grass on the SE corner to find another Skit Point.

# “Yeah.”: Presea+120, or “Don’t be too afraid, though.”: no change #

Let’s next head south and a little east to the large island between the two continents. This island holds Altamira, where you can stop to pick up some nice equipment in the hotel’s second floor if you have a load of cash, but I kinda prefer not to skip ahead because then it makes the stuff I find in dungeons completely unexciting. Your call, though. I’ll describe the shops later when we actually have to go there for the plot. Anyhow, there is a Skit Point at the SE foot of the mountains on the NE part of the island.

# “That’s hard to imagine.”: Regal+180, or “Hahahaha!”: no change #

Now fly south to the eastern of the two tiny islands south of Altamira’s island to find a chest with an EX Gem Lv.3 on the beach. The large, sandy peninsula to the east of this has a Skit Point at the end.

# “I don’t care.”: no change, or “Anything’s fine.”: Genis+60 #

Head straight south and you will find the final Monument half covered in the forest. Activate it to make Noishe happy. There is a road just north of the Monument; follow it west until it ends at a HoG and mountains. Follow these mountains south and you’ll find a Skit Point on the Peninsula where they end, just a tad west.

# “Well, it doesn’t matter.”: no change, or “Why?”: Zelos+60 #

You’ll find Elven Boots on the NW bit of the mini-peninsula just NW of here. Fly just a bit west to the next peninsula and land to find yet another Skit Point next to the mountains.

# “Huh? Are you crying?”: Sheena+60, or “Wow. Sheena’s crying.”: no change #

Follow the coast west a little way and land on the small, sandy peninsula on the western side of the continent. There is a Skit Point.

# “Fine then.”: no change, or “Why do you try to act tough?”: Raine+60 #

Let’s hit the other half of this continent now: fly ESE a ways and land on the first peninsula after the large bay. Here is, you guessed it, another Skit Point.

# “Does it matter?”: no change, or “What?!”: Presea+120 #

Go east some more and land on the last peninsula on the south side of the continent, just west of the big island. This time it is a chest we are after, and it contains a Rune Cape. Go to the eastern tip of this continent to find another Skit Point just on the north side of the mountains.

# “Is something wrong?”: Presea+120, or “I’ll leave her alone.”: no change #

The final thing to find on this continent can be located by following the north coast west to the first bump (too small to glorify with the name peninsula) and land there to find a chest containing Rare Pellets. Alrighty, the last few things are all located on the archipelago in the NW corner of the map, so fly there now. The NW sandy island has a Skit Point.

# “No, it’s not.”: Regal+180, or “Take a compliment for once!”: no change#

The hard-to-land-on southern foot of the large mountain on the island just south of that one has a chest with a Revive Ring. Now fly to the fourth island from the left in the top row and land for an EX Gem Lv.4 (I gave Genis Speed Cast). That is it for our current round of collection! Don’t you feel accomplished? Rest at an inn if you like, then let’s go save us a Chosen. You’ll want to go to the far east part of the map, right in the middle; you should see what looks like a tower floating in the clouds, and I guess that’s exactly what it is. Go as high as you can and fly into it for some scenes and a boss fight.

BOSS: Winged Dragon
HP: 18000, Weakness: None, Resists: None, Minions: 2 Baby Dragons
This thing is so big only it’s head will appear onscreen! Per usual, take out the minions first. Easier said than done, because dragons are apparently tough customers, quick to damage and knock you back and hard to stagger. Mama will sometimes throw out a powerful earth move called Nest Crack, so watch out for that and try to avoid or block it. Use the same tactics you did in the last boss fight, double tanking and letting Genis blast while Raine heals. Good luck!

Yay, Colette’s back! You wake up right in front of the next dungeon, the Earth Temple, but we can do another couple things first. There are a few skits to watch, but I will cover those in the next section because character limits. Go to Meltokio and quick jump through the sewers. Go to the farthest NE house in the rich district and speak with the woman next to the harp.

# “Is something wrong?”: Presea+120, or “Let’s go.”: no change #

Now leave the city and go to Sybak. Here speak to the bespectacled man in blue next to the junk merchant to start another side quest. You’ll receive the PINK PEARL RING. Go to the western screen and speak to the man by the water next to the dog, assuming you’re doing the quest that we just started in Meltokio.

# “Do you really want to leave it like that?”: Presea+120, or “Okay, let’s get going.”: no change #

If you want to finish it now, just go speak to the woman with the harp in Meltokio.

# “Presea.”: Presea+240, or “Let’s go.”: no change #

Because of stupid Steam character limits, here are skits from the previous section, after saving Colette: First off the Paw one might show up here if you did not see it earlier so be sure to watch it even if you don't care about skits to get that title for Regal! There will be a handful of skits that show up by just landing and waiting for a bit on the overworld, one that requires Colette to have been in 150 battles while Genis and Presea have both been in 100, one that only appears if you watched all the skits about Presea's wish tags previously, one that requires Genis to have been in 150 battles and Presea in 100 plus two more follow-ups to that one, and finally three more that require you to go to a town or dungeon and transition screens to trigger them. Whew!

^ Looks Can Be Deceiving, Their Relationship, Cute and Strong Ribbon, Time Does Not Go Back, Smile and Forgive, Lloyd Reluctant, Thank You for Saving Me, Zelos' Lecture, Top of the Class, Mystery Behind Zelos, the Valedictorian, I Can't Tell Anyone, Kendama Competition ^

Once finished, or if you want to skip it or save it for the next time you are there for other reasons (all valid), fly to Mizuho. Speak to the shopkeeper, then go to the NE corner of the village and inspect the well to receive the ACCOUNT BOOK and the SECRET NOTEBOOK. Next go to Ozette. Enter Presea’s house and inspect the bear carving to learn the Gratin recipe. Hop over to Altessa’s House and speak to Tabatha to learn how to make Curry (one of my favorites, both in the game and in real life). Learning the Curry recipe is not optional, you’ll need it in the next dungeon. Ingredients for it, if you need them, can be purchased from a little boy in the northern part of Flanoir.

Before we move on, guess what? There are three last Skit Points in Tethe’alla for Colette! (Okay, there’s one more for Kratos, but we’ll ignore that for now.) The first is east of that big circle forest where we found the Sephira.

# “Okay.”: no change, or “Wow!”: Colette+60 #

Next go to the far western tip of the Temple of Lightning island.

# “Yeah. You’re right.”: Colette+60, or “Well, duh.”: no change #

Finally, go to the southern continent and find the Monument hidden in the trees. Now just go a bit east of that along the line of the mountain and you’ll find the last one, also in the trees.

# “I doubt it.”: no change, or “Maybe.”: Colette+60 #

Okay, now go to the Temple of Earth at the northern tip of Meltokio’s continent.

*Temple of Earth*
There is an RC right away, so use it to gain the power of quake. Note that any time you use this power when not standing on something it breaks there is a chance that a group of inescapeable Cave Worms will fall on you. You’ll want to do this at least once to get them in your Monster Book.

& Cave Worm, Clay Golem, Earth Element, Giant Snail, Neviros*

Move forward and use the quake power to break down the stone pillars blocking your way. Speak to the Gnomelette standing on the bridge. He will only let you pass if you gave a Potion to the Gnomelette in the Toize Valley Mine. Hope you did that like I told you to or you’ll have to go do some annoying backtracknig now. Cross the bridge and take the SE fork until you come out at the next screen. Cross the bridge here and open the chest for a Mythril Circlet. Return to the first screen and this time take the northern path to the next one. Cross this bridge and go up the ramp for a Bellebane, then go back down and speak with the Gnomelette. He will insist that you make curry for him.

# Whoever cooks for the Gnomelette: +120 #

@ Chest 131: Mythril Circlet, Chest 132: Bellebane @

The next Gnomelette will run off for now. We’ll deal with him in a bit. First we have some treasure to grab. When you stand on one of these wooden platforms and use quake it will break and drop you down below. Once you get to the bottom you will discover a shortcut back to the first screen, but to get all the treasure you will have to come back here and do it again. Here is one way to get everything, requiring three trips: Fall through the first panel and grab the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3. Fall down the only panel you can reach, then the next two as well. Now fall through the furthest panel and run back to grab the Ancient Rod. Now take the western panel down and grab a Bardiche, then take the only panels available down the rest of the way. Approach the Gnomelette in front of the cave mouth to the west and he’ll uncover a shortcut to the first screen of the Temple. Go there now, and do NOT speak with the Gnomelette here yet, as we have more treasure to acquire first.

@ Chest 133: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 134: Ancient Rod, Chest 135: Bardiche @

Go back north to the previous screen and this time start by falling down the middle panel. Take the only panel you can and grab the Ghost Shell on the left. Go back east and drop through on that side, which will actually break through the one below it as well. You’ve been on this one before, just drop through the east one and continue down to the bottom, then make your way back up to the top one more time.

@ Chest 136: Ghost Shell @

Third time, third panel, then the next one. Grab the EX Gem Lv.2, then break through again. You’ll do another double and then you can take the EX Gem Lv.1. That does it for treasures in here, so get to the bottom and through the shortcut. This time speak with the Gnomelette waiting there.

@ Chest 137: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 138: EX Gem Lv.1 @

This part is easy enough. Just keep a few paces ahead of the little guy and take out any enemies you see. Make sure he goes through the exit before you do. Speak to the Gnomelette again when he is standing on the bridge. You’ll have to time your button presses to quake just as he lands three times. It’s fairly forgiving, so it should not take too long to accomplish. Save your game and continue north for the boss.

BOSS: Gnome
HP: 28000, Weakness: None, Resists: Earth
Other than his high HP this guy is kind of a joke. He’ll try to move around and cast spells, but he’s easily surrounded and overwhelmed. Just use standard boss tactics and he’ll go down quicker than you would think.

Proceed south up the ramp and grab the Mythril Bracelet, then continue on up. Cross the stone bridge here and quake the pillar in the SW to gain access to a Mythril Guard. Now go north and quake the wall to create a ramp back up. Use it to return to the main path, then make your way SW and exit the Temple.

@ Chest 139: Mythril Bracelet, Chest 140: Mythril Guard

*Overworld*
Next stop: Flanoir, the city in the snow. First we need to wander around the snow a bit and collect three Penguinist Quills, however. They are, of course, dropped commonly by Penguinists.

& Ice Spider, Penguinist, Ranger, Rogue, Sliver (rare), Sorceress &

I also feel I should point out that if your party is in the mid-forties level range, you might have access to the Unison Attacks that will push you up to 60 or even 100 hit combos. For one Lloyd only needs to be level 21 and have either Sword Rain: Alpha or Sonic Sword Rain and Colette 44 and know Hammer Rain (T-Style). Combine those two in a Unison Attack and you can rack your combo way up, but you’ll want to use it against a large opponent to maximize the number of hits. I used the Dragon we’ll be meeting later, and obtained a combo of exactly 100. The other great Unison Attack for this requires both Genis and Raine to be T-Style, minimum level 38 and 46, respectively. Combine Genis’ Cyclone, Explosion, Ground Dasher, Indignation, or Tidal Wave with Raine’s Ray spell and you get a guaranteed 30 hits! Use this at the end of a good combo from Lloyd and you can pretty much guarantee a 60 hitter on any enemy that can survive that long.

! Lloyd: Combo Expert (HP+6, TP+2, Str+6, Acc+2) Perform a 60+ hit combo.

Lloyd: Combo Master (TP+5, Acc+10) Perform a 100+ hit combo. !

Once you’ve collected at least three Quills go ahead and enter Flanoir.

*Flanoir*
First of all there is a dog wandering right in front of you when you enter. Then enter the inn on your left and flirt with the woman standing downstairs, the maid upstairs, and the woman in the northern 2nd floor room (57, 58, 59). Back outside, there is an old woman standing out in front of the inn and a little girl down the steps to the east (60, 61). Some merchant guy near the girl will mention an item we’ll get a little later, pretty much just warning you to bring a piece of equipment we’re about to pick up. Go north of him to the next screen and hit on the woman in line (the one in the middle) (62). Just west of that is a little girl for Zelos (63), a dog for Colette, and a little boy running a food cart.

$ Winter Harvest – Flanoir $
Flanoir Potion 1000
Juicy Meat 200
Beef Strips 80
Mushroom 60
Potato 50
Onion 60
Carrot 60
Rice 80
Pasta 80
Bread 70
White Satay 200
Red Satay 200
Black Satay 200

Go to the next screen west. There will be a woman to hit on (64), then go west a bit and enter the weapon/armor/customization shop.

$ Hailstorm – Flanoir $
Dragon Tooth 4800
Shining Star 3600
Thunder Sceptre 3200
Card of Ice 4300
Lightning Sword 4600
Tomahawk Lance 5000
Power Greaves 4600
Silver Mail 4200
Silver Guard 4000
Elder Cloak 3700
Battle Cloak 3900
Ancient Robe 4000
Duel Helm 3400
Silver Circlet 2000
Beam Shield 2500

Mythril 12.0
Metal Sphere 12.0
Black Silver 10.0
Brass 10.00
Mermaid’s Tear 15.0
Mystic Herb 15.0
Magical Cloth 10.0
White Silver 10.0
Beast Fang 5.0
Beast Hide 8.0

The customization part is not currently available. If you are feeling rich you can grab a Elder Cloak, and Duel Helm, but it’s not really necessary. Don’t bother with an Ancient Robe, because you’ll find one very soon, or Silver Mail because you’ll soon get something even better. Now go up the stairs on the right and enter the accessory shop.

$ Snow White – Flanoir $
Poison Charm 4000
Drain Charm 4000
Stone Charm 4000
Paralysis Charm 4000
Talisman 8000
Stun Bracelet 4000
Heal Bracelet 4000
Spirit Bangle 4000
Black Onyx 25000
Moonstone 25000

If you have any Rune Bottles stored up you can buy Talismans and turn them into Blue Talismans, then sell them for a nice profit. Or keep them; 15% extra defense is a nice accessory. Talk to the old man on the left and hand over your Penguinist Quills to obtain the Penguinist Gloves. Now go back outside and head up the steps to the east. Chat up the little girl (65), then enter the church. Here you’ll find a woman wandering about and a priestess with whom you should flirt (66, 67), and a block that turns out to be the Wonder Chef teaching Quiche. Okay, we’re done in Flanoir for now, so exit the city and head SE along the mountains until you find the Temple of Ice.

*Temple of Ice*
& Bigfoot, Feather Magic, Ice Spider, Ice Warrior, Lobo, Penguinist &

Follow the west wall up to a chest with a Mythril Shield. Then cut directly east and find a Defenser and an Ancient Robe. Now go all the way north and enter the cave.

@ Chest 141: Mythril Shield, Chest 142: Defenser, Chest 143: Ancient Robe @

There is an RC to use, then proceed south for an Ice Coffin, and directly NE of that a Mythril Gauntlet (I would hold off on equipping the former since you are in a dungeon full of enemies that resist ice, but it’s your call. Alternatively, equip the sword for its base power and then equip an elemental gem accessory to change the element). Go all the way north up the ramps and grab a chest of Mythril Armor, then go north into the next screen.

@ Chest 144: Ice Coffin, Chest 145: Mythril Gauntlet, Chest 146: Mythril Armor @

If you go west onto the ice you’ll automatically slide back down to the beginning of the area, so don’t do that. Instead head south and us the Sorcerer’s Ring on the dripping water over the gap to form an ice bridge. Keep going south and around to another cave where you should grab the EX Gem Lv.2 and examine the flower to grab CELSIUS’ TEAR. Now return to the first cave and go east at the ice bridge.

@ Chest 147: EX Gem Lv.2 @

Go south as far as you can and freeze the drip in the SE corner. Push the newly-formed ice block into the gap to the west to create a bridge, then examine the flow of water in the SW to freeze the lake. Go back to the bit that used to be the gap and get ready for a sliding puzzle: go up, left, down, left, up, left, up, right, down, and left to find a chest with Rosemary. Go to the southernmost gap and onto the ice once again: right, up, left, down, right, up, right, and up. Open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3 and proceed north. If you paid attention to the little tiki heads in the frozen lake then you’ll know how to solve this puzzle. If not, don’t worry, I’ll tell you. Manipulate a head to turn it counter-clockwise. To open the way you want the south head to face east, the west head to face east, the north head to face west, and the east head to face south. The door will open, but prepare yourself for a boss fight before you go through (no MC? Bummer!).

@ Chest 148: Rosemary, Chest 149: EX Gem Lv.3 @

BOSS: Celsius and Fenrir
HP: 18000 and 12000, Weakness: Fire and Fire, Lightning; Resists: Ice, Water and Ice, Water
Use standard tactics for a multi-boss fight: two tanks set to attack different foes, Genis blasting (with fire!), and Raine healing. Due to the elemental weakness this fight should go pretty quick. Oh, equip one of your fighters with the Garnet for extra damage, and equip accessories like the Aqua Cape, and even Penguinist Quills to blunt ice attacks.
If you have been following this guide then Sheena will earn the Elemental Summoner title now:

! Sheena: Elemental Summoner (TP+2, Int+4, Acc+3) Obtain the Earth, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Water, and Wind summons. !

Anyway, exit the Temple now (down, right, down at the frozen lake). You will automatically go to Ozette. Exit and speak with Altessa at his house. Go inside and speak to the Gnomelette in the SW corner, then speak to Altessa again.

# All right, come on.”: Colett+60, Genis+180, Raine+180, Sheena-60, Zelos-120, Presea-180, Regal+120; or “No, it’s just too dangerous.”: Colette+120, Genis-180, Raine-120, Sheena+120, Zelos+180, Presea+180, Regal-60 #

*Overworld*
It’s time to visit Altamira! But wait, there is a unique monster on that island:

& Grass: Boxer Iris, Gentleman (rare), Gold Beatle, Mantis, Ranger Rogue, Sorceress; Beach: Mermaid (rare), Sea Horse, Seaspin, Super Star &

*Altamira*
Ah, everyone loves a... modern resort town? Lots of girls to flirt with on just the first screen: a bunny just north of the entrance, a woman west of the hotel at the top of the stairs leading down to the beach, another at the bottom of said stairs, a noblewoman between the beach stairs and the bridge leading west, another bunny east of the bridge, and a woman just south of the elvevator west of the bridge by the ferry (68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73). You’ll also have seen the dog in the NE, so say hi. Now head down the steps and south to the beach. There is a woman by the changing rooms, a bunny by the bar hut, and another woman by the lunge chairs (74, 75, 76). Return to the first screen and enter the hotel. Take the lift to the east up to the 2nd floor. Here you’ll find a little girl to the south (77) and a few shops.

$ Full House – Altamira $
Apple Gel 100
Lemon Gel 1000
Orange Gel 200
Pineapple Gel 1200
Melange Gel 500
Miracle Gel 3000
Panacea Bottle 150
Life Bottle 300
Miracle Bottle 3000
Anti-Magic Bottle 1000
Flare Bottle 1000
Guard Bottle 1000
Syrup Bottle 1000
Shell Bottle 1000
Holy Bottle 200
Dark Bottle 200

Elemental Brand – Kotetsu + Beast Fang + Black Silver + Mystic Herb
Lunar Ring – Shuriken + Brass + Black Silver + Mythril
Lunar Ring – Mythril Ring + Brass + Metal Sphere + Mythril
Flame Dagger – Assault Dagger + Black Silver + White Silver + Metal Sphere
Halberd – Crescent Ax + Brass + Metal Sphere
Bear Claw – Iron Greaves + Brass + Black Silver

$ Wild Card – Altamira $
Elemental Brand 5200
Defenser 5000
Lunar Ring 5000
Shuriken 4000
Shining Star 3600
Ancient Rod 4200
Thunder Scepter 3200
Flame Dagger 5400
Ice Coffin 5000
Halberd 5600
Bardiche 5200
Bear Claw 5200
Ghost Shell 5000

$ Aces High – Altamira $
Mythril Armor 4600
Mythril Guard 10000
Mythril Mesh 4200
Mythril Circlet 2200
Mythril Shield 2800
Mythril Gauntlet 1200
Mythril Bracelet 2000
Cute Mittens 1800
Poison Charm 4000
Drain Charm 4000
Stone Charm 4000
Paralysis Charm 4000
Stun Charm 4000
Thief’s Cape 3000
Heavy Boots 3000
Magic Mist 3000

Note that, as Regal refuses to enter the city, you cannot get his 10% discount here. If you can afford it, buy/craft the following: Elemental Brand, Lunar Ring, Flame Dagger, Halberd, Bear Claw, Mythril Armor, Mythril Guard, 2 Mythril Mesh, Mythril Gauntlet, 4 Mythril Bracelets, and 3 Stun Charms. Now take the lift to the 3rd floor. There is a woman wandering to the south, one to the north, and an old woman to the NW (78, 79, 80). Now leave the hotel.

Go north and east along the path opposite the bridge to obtain an EMLOYEE ID. Now go west over the bridge, down the lift, and speak to the ferryman. Tell him you wish to go to the amusement park. There is a bunny to the NW, a little girl wandering to the NW of her, and a woman standing on the steps north of her. Now use the ferry to return and speak then take it to the Lezareno Company. Go north and into either of the elevators and take it to the Sky Terrace. Go to the center of this room and investigate the grave. Return to the lift and take it down to the 1st floor where you will learn about the Otherwordly Gate.

Now leave the city and fly pretty much due east to the little island with the stone pillars. Land there and enter for a sequence of events including another fight with two Cardinal Knights and a Commander Knight and ending with you back in Sylverant.

*Overworld*
We start off next to Palmacosta, but this is the first time we’ve had the freedom of flight in Sylverant, so let’s get those treasures/Skit Points! Fly to the island to the NE. There is a Skit Point on the NE side and then you can pick up a chest on the SW corner for an All-Divide. A good start!

# “What?! Are you serious?”: Zelos+60, or “Sure, go ahead.”: no change #

Directly north of the previous Skit Point is another:

# “So what?”: no change, or “Yeah.”: Sheena+60 #

The sandy peninsula to the SW has another one:

# “What’re you doing?”: Genis+60, or “I’ll leave him alone.”: no change #

Fly up toward the Tower of Salvation and go a bit west to the coast. Here you’ll find a chest with a Red Sage. Okay, now fly east and north over to the Balacruf Mausoleum and land in the spots of grass over the mountains to the north of it for a Skit Point and a Red Savory.

# “Never mind.”: no change, or “I’ll pay you when I get rich.”: Zelos+60 #

Now fly east to the long, skinny island we haven’t visited before. The NE part of this island contains the Katz Village, but as of right now there is little reason to go there. If you look closely you will see there are four distinct lines of mountains here: two on the north edge and two on the south. The spot we are looking for is the very western tip of the eastern-most south mountain line. If that is too confusing, just walk along the south coast until you find it. Here is a chest containing Energy Tablets. On the SW end of this island is another Skit Point.

# “I’ll leave him alone.”: no change, or “What’s on your mind?”: Regal+180 #

Okay, almost done. Fly south to the good old Iselia area, and find the stretch of land along the west coast that we couldn’t access on foot due to mountains. We want the south tip, among the forest, almost due west of the HoS, where we will find a Skit Point.

# “Oh, I see.”: Presea+120, or “I doubt it.”: no change #

Fly SW to the little island at the SE corner of the map; this is Thoda Geyser island. Land on the grass above and just south of the Geyser to find a Skit Point. Only one more to go!

# “You really are mature.”: Regal+180, or “You really are a prude.”: no change #

Head west back to Palmacosta, then a little further west to the island there. Land on the SE part of this island to find the final Skit Point, then go enter Palmacosta to continue the story.
# “No.”: no change, or “Sure.”: Presea+120 #

You’ll receive MITHOS’ PANPIPE. Leave the city for now (we’ll deal with the female population a little later) and head to the Palmacosta Human Ranch. After the scene, speak with Botta and tell him you are good to go and you will be teleported to our next dungeon.

*Remote Island Human Ranch*
& Bowman, Evil Jelly, Evil Sorcerer, Giant Slug, Sea Horror, Spearman, Whip Master &
Make sure you fight the Evil Jelly, Giant Slug, and Sea Horror before going through the door to fight the boss, as this is the only place you can find them and you won’t be able to come back.

Start by just running forward and through the door up the middle path. You will be confronted with a puzzle involving lighting tiles by walking on them. If you step on one that is already lit, it will darken, and you cannot reenter the most recent tile you were on. Anyway, it’s super simple: walk onto the first tile to darken it, then turn south and run around the entire perimeter, ending back on the first tile and step onto the middle tile to finish and open the way forward. The next one is only slightly more complicated. Walk onto the first tile, then go south as far as you can go, east to the first intersection, south, east, north to the first intersection, east, north west to the second intersection, all the way around the unlit rectangle, then finish on the tile to the west. One wonders why they even bother. Kill the first soldier after this puzzle for a Memory Gem, then continue east and through the door.

In this room, activate the RC then the glowing circle in the center and ascend in the lift. Exit the room and in here open the chests and push the yellow buttons until you have three treasures and four buttons. There will be a scene and then you will be able to return to the lift and take it higher up.

@ Chest 150: Stone Charm, Chest 151: Holy Staff, Chest 152: Vajra @

On this level we get to ride a weird platform thingy. Summon it with the Sorcerer’s Ring and use the same to change the light on your conveyance. This light determines which direction the platform will turn at any intersection. Navigate to the circular orange things to warp up. Reaching a dead end will drop you to down. And going over sparks will randomly cause paralysis to your party members. It’s really easy once you figure out the steering, so just make your way up to the top level and try to avoid the sparks. If you do get paralyzed, just have Raine cast Purify when you land to clear everyone at once. Go through the west door to continue, then through the east door in the next room.

Okay, this room involves lots of warps. Using the Ring near many of the warps will cycle their color from white to pink to green to blue, and back to white again. Any warp that defaults to a color other than white is static and cannot be cycled, and warps always take you to another of like color. Unlock and use the MC, then change the warp to blue and use it. Change the next warp to pink and use it, then activate the console to disengage one of the three locks guarding the boss and warp back. Now change the warp to blue, the next one to pink, and open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.1. Warp back again and this time make the warp green and go through. Move west and open the chest for a Holy Cloak, then ascend the stairs to find another white warp. Make this one green and once through go west for an EX Gem Lv.3, then go up and over to the west to disengage another lock. Now warp back, turn the warp blue, use it, and go west for an EX Gem Lv.2. Go back again and this time try pink, then go east for a Minazuki and an EX Gem Lv.4. Go up the stairs, cycle to blue, then go west to obtain a Mythril Ax. Now go all the way up the flights of stairs in order to deactivate the final console. Head back down to the white warp you passed, make it pink, and collect the EX Gem Lv.3. Back, then blue, then straight east for Mythril Greaves and up the stairs for a Revive Ring. Now go back through the blue, down the stairs, back through another blue, down the stairs, pink, stairs, green, blue, and blue. You’ll be back at the MC, so save.

@ Chest 153: EX Gem Lv.1, Chest 154: Holy Cloak, Chest 155: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 156: EX Gem Lv.2, Chest 157: Minazuki, Chest 158: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 159: Mythril Ax, Chest 160: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 161: Mythril Greaves, Chest 162: Revive Ring @

Go green and collect the Saffron, then back, now make it pink. Grab the EX Gem Lv.2 and make the ring blue to go to the very top. Prepare for a Boss fight followed immediately by another tough fight; make sure your best recipe is selected, and your best cook, then go through the door to the north.

@ Chest 163: Saffron, Chest 164: EX Gem Lv.2 @

BOSS: Rodyle
HP: 35000, Weakness: None, Resists: Earth
Rodyle is powerful and has good reach, but is quite slow and easy to tank. Use standard boss fighting tactics: set the order to All Out, block his physical attacks and dodge or guard tech his spells and energy attacks, only try to attack when he is already staggered by a spell, etc. Hopefully you can finish this fight in good form or at least be perked up by some nice hot Curry, because you don’t get a break or a heal before having to take on three Baby Dragons (no mama this time though!). This is also the fight in which you can earn the final challenge-based title, Gung Ho, if the sum of the active party members' levels is no higher than 145. I didn't get this one until my second playthrough, when I used Grade to slow down leveling.

! Lloyd: Gung Ho (HP+6, TP+2, Def+5) !

You’ll end up in Palmacosta again. Leave the city and quick jump to the Sylverant Base. Here you will gain the ability to warp between the two worlds, unlocking all sorts of options for us. First of all let’s warp right back to Sylverant by flying over the Tethe’all base.

*Overworld*
And now to do what video games were created to do: fly around the world picking up chicks! Fly first to the Iselia HoS.

*Iselia House of Salvation*
If you did not do so earlier in the game, name the doggy outside, then enter. There is only one woman here, the old lady upstairs. Chat her up, then leave and fly south to Triet.

*Triet*
There is actully more to do here than just pick up chicks. As you enter you’ll see a bald man in overalls standing in front of the inn. Speak to him to play the second most annoying mini-game in the game, Uncle (so named because all the guys are uncles, maybe?).

^ Uncle
Starts: After Rodyle defeated; Requires: Full party
Middle-aged men run at you. You have to memorize what they look like and in what order they reach you, then pick them out of a line-up. The most annoying part is that, in later levels, the line-up is so packed that the game will often think you are pointing at the guy next to the one you are trying to pick and screw it up for you. It helps if you are running into the one you want. Anyway, I find it helps to give each guy a nickname and repeat them in your head over and over to keep the order straight. (Guy that looks like Teddy from Bob’s Burgers is Teddy, guy that looks like Mario is Mario, guy that looks like a hipster is Hipster, etc). It probably helps to have a second person with you to help you memorize. Oh, and the timer stops when there is a speech bubble onscreen, so you can take a moment to check the line-up around you and spot the next one. Play through the first five rounds, then tell the guy you want to try something harder and you’ll get the same game but the guys move faster for rounds six through ten. Beat round ten for a title for Lloyd. v

! Lloyd: Midlife Crisis (TP+1, Int+6) !

Okay, there is a woman to the east, just south of the inn (81). Enter the inn and find one in the lobby and one in the downstairs room (82, 83). Back outside, speak to the woman wandering in front of the shops (84) as well as the guy with the pony-tail standing by the item shop to start another quest. On the north screen talk to the man with the dog for the other part of setting up that quest, then chat with the woman next to the fortune-teller’s tent (85). Now leave the city and look NW. See what looks like a Skit Point? Make sure you’ve got a good team all healed up, because once you touch it you’ll have to fight a powerful creature called a Sand Worm. (Might want to bring Colette along because you can steal an All-Divide from it). It’s weak against water and strong against everything else except light, by the way. Once it is defeated, you gain another seemingly worthless weapon (like the Evil Eye earlier), this time a sword for Zelos called the Soul Eater. That’s not ominous or anything, is it? Okay, fly over the eastern mountains and visit Izoold.

*Izoold*
Speak with the woman at the entrance and Lyla’s grandmother in the northernmost house (86, 87), then try to walk down the steps to the south. You get a choice!

# "Save her.": Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine+120, Kratos+120, Sheena+60, Zelos+60, Presea+60, Regal+60; or “Leave her alone.” Colette-60, Genis-60, Raine-120, Kratos-120, Sheena-60, Zelos-60, Presea-60, Regal-60 (Kratos is affected even though he isn’t in the party). #

Believe it or not, this choice has absolutely no other consequences. Anyway, once done, chat up the little girl on the east side of the beach (88), then exit to the east side of town. Here there is a little girl wandering the grass, two women chatting on the dock, and another little girl hiding behind some crates in the NW corner inside the house (89, 90, 91, 92). Done, exit town and go to Palmacosta.

*Palmacosta*
There are two women right at the enrance to town and a little girl gazing into the water nearby (south side) (93, 94, 95), then check the inn. There is an easily missed door on the west wall of the ground floor; enter to find another woman (96). On the screen to the north there is a woman wandering around by the stalls (97). Back on the first screen, go east over the first bridge and find another one standing by the second bridge (98). Now check the western building here and go through the west archway and around to chat with the woman from behind the counter (99). In the main plaza to the east chat with the woman to the north, one to the south, and a little girl, young woman, and old woman on the east end (100, 101, 102, 103, 104). The church has a middle-aged woman on the left and an old woman on the right (105, 106), while the Academy has two in each of the four rooms (including the cafe)! (107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)! (Note that four of them don’t show up until after you’ve taken the quiz against the snotty student, which you can still do if you declined earlier). It is a total sausage party at the Palmacosta HoS, so go to the Thoda dock.

*Thoda Docks*
There is a single old lady upstairs (115), then you should fly across to the geyser.

*Thoda Geyser*
Talk to the tour guide, the old woman in front of her, and the woman just east of them (115, 116, 117). Then take the washtubs back, leave, and fly to Asgard.

*Asgard*
There is a woman at the town entrance and one on the west end of the first inn (118, 119). Upstairs there is a woman in the cave between the shops, and one up by the Katz booth (120, 121). Downstairs check the cave behind for two women and a little girl (122, 123, 124). There is a woman chatting with her husband in front of the expensive inn, as well as one upstairs in the eastern room (125, 126). The third inn has a maid in both the east and middle rooms (127, 128). Now go to the east screen. On the bottom level you will find two women and a little girl, and a woman in the western house. (129, 130, 131, 132). On the middle level is a little girl playing hide and seek, and on the top a maid outside (133, 134). Finally, in top house, there are two more maids and an old lady. Asgard HoS, anyone?

*Asgard House of Salvation*
Just one woman upstairs (135). Let’s go for the Balacruf Mausoleum next.

*Balacruf Mausoleum*
There is a single old woman west of the entrance (136). Skip Luin for the moment, and fly to Hima.

*Hima*
You’ll start a mini-quest to find out more about Yuan by entering town. If you wish to see the next part you must climb back up to the summit of the Fooji Mountains. Now enter the inn and speak to the magician girl through the east door on the ground floor: the only woman in town (137)!

Now let’s go to the east end of Luin. Hope you have lots of gald saved up! If not, come by here later in the game whenever is convenient.

*Luin*
Speak to Pietro and give him 5000 gald, then exit and come back. Give him 12000 more, exit and come back. 21500. Exit. Back. 15000. 20000. Dog! 25000. 35000. 40000. 45000. 50000 and the weapon shop will be back. A whoppng 75000 gald this time and the weapon shop will upgrade its stock. This is probably the biggest deal, since it sells some really powerful weapons for 40000 apiece. Too powerful, in my opinion: they’re joke weapons that you don’t really have to work that hard for, and they make some supposedly great late game weapons seem like a letdown in comparison. I skip them, other than for Collection Book purposes at the end of the game, but your call.

$ Fighting Spirit – Luin $
Paper Fan 40000
Tambourine 40000
Phantasmagoria 40000
Deck Brush 40000
Money Bag 40000
Toy Dagger 40000
Baseball Bat 40000
Pow Hammer DX 40000
Glory Arts 40000

You can also run down to the item shop to watch a scene with the Imposters, assuming you did their first two in Asgard and Balacruf Mausoleum, respectively.

Now, wait for it, they want you to donate 100000. There is really no further mechanical benefit besides a single chance for affection, so it’s up to you if its worth spending more money. I did it, because completionist, but hey, it’s your game. The final three donations are for only 5000 each cause a statue to be erected of Sheena, Lloyd, and Raine, respectively. Chat with Pietro one last time for the chance to nominate the new Honorary Mayor:

# “Me, I guess.”: Kratos+60, or Any other character: that character+60 #

And now we can run through and flirt with all the ladies! (Based on fully rebuilt Luin) There is a woman at the entrance, one in the NW corner of the inn, three out in front of the item shop, one upstairs in the item shop, one in front of the fountain, and one on the docks (138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145). Back to Tethe’alla we go! Head first to Flanoir.

*Flanoir*
Talk to the man crouched in front of the building to the NE. You’ll receive Nebilim and NEBILIM’S KEY. We now have a quest to find the rest of these nine cursed weapons, of which we currently have three. Go fly to Mizuho and enter the Goracchia Forest from this end.

*Goracchia Forest*
Exit NW, north, then follow the path NW to the black chest and open it for Fafnir. You also get to make a choice:

# “Just bear it for now, okay?”: Colette-60, Genis-60, Raine-120, Kratos-120, Sheena+60, Zelos-60, Presea-60, Regal-60, or “Should we stop collecting them?”: Genis+60, Raine+60, Sheena-60, Zelos +60, Presea +120 #

Exit the forest. Are you curious what the Gnomelettes are up to? I am. Let’s visit the little bas-, er, guys at the Temple of Earth.

*Temple of Earth*
Head north and through the shortcut to the bottom of the big cliff. Go east and meet the Gnomelettes, who will now let you pass. Up the ramp fight the surprisingly easy Dragon, then open the black chest for the Gates of Hell. Alright, let’s go ahead and go to Altamira now.

*Altamira*
Like Regal says, go to the Lezareno Company building. There will be a series of scenes, then a choice:

# “Of course.”: Colette+120, Sheena+120, Zelos+120, Regal+180; or “If that’s all right with Presea.”: Genis+120, Raine+120, Presea+180 #

Regal will now gain the coolest title of all:

! Regal: El Presidente (Str+5, Def+5, Int+4) !

Leave the building and go the hotel where you will receive a THEATER TICKET. Now you should save and stay the night. Choose to go out during the night to explore a whole new side of Altamira!

Take the ferry to the Casino and Theatre area. Up the lift you’ll see a woman by the railing (146) and a dog just behind her. Go east and down into the theatre audience to find three more women with whom you may flirt (147, 148, 149). For a good laugh, speak to the guy in the suit at the top of the stairs (I believe you need to have the SECRET NOTEBOOK key item for him to be there). Now head back west and enter the casino. In here there is a bunny right in front of you, one over by the slot machines on your right, a woman playing on the slots, a woman in purple in the NE corner, a woman playing blackjack at the north table, the bunny dealing blackjack, and the woman playing roulette in the west (for some reason the bunny running the roulette table doesn’t count) (150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156).

As for the casino itslelf... I don’t like it. I’m not a gambler and think that the million chip achievement in particular is just annoying and ridiculous. The chips are monstrously expensive at 500 gald apiece, and the games don’t give particularly good chances to win. The slots may be slightly easier than the other two, but let’s just say it is a pain in the butt regardless of the method. The man behind the counter at the front sells the chips and the bunny up front redeems them for prizes.

$ Casino – Altamira Night $
Chip 500

Miracle Gel 20c
Rune Bottle 500c
Rare Pellets 2000c
Strike Ring 5000c
Technical Ring 5000c
Spirit Ring 15000c
Devil’s Plaything 250c
Forget-Me-Not 75000c
???? 150000c

If you have 125000 gald to spare (or purchase fewer chips and get lucky/reload until you get lucky) then you should purchace the Devil’s Plaything, which turns out to be Disaster, another cursed Devil’s Arm weapon! The Forget-Me-Not unlocks a Skit Viewer in the Katz Village, and is a Key Item for your Collector’s Book. The ???? prize will unlock a title (no stat change) and alternative costume for Raine, but you would have to be exceedingly rich, patient, and/or lucky to get that right now. I’ll discuss it later in the guide. For now return to the hotel.

Take the lift to the fifth floor first and speak with the maid (157), then descend to 4F. There is another maid here (158) and a pumpkin that teaches you how to make Spaghetti. I bet you never expected to read that sentence, did you? Enter the west room for a sight that I think is just wonderful, but not everyone might agree. Exit the room and go up the stairs to the north, into the room, and inspect the bed. Choose to go to bed now order to return to Altamira during the day. Our next destination is the southern tip of the western continent where we will find the Temple of Darkness. Which is too dark. Go to Meltokio instead.

*Meltokio*
You’re going to want to go to the Research Lab to ask them about the darkness problem. Only they want you to fight in the Coliseum. So go do that.

One character gets to fight. If you choose Zelos, it is free (and you can flirt with the two women in the anteroom). If you choose Presea, it costs 5000 gald. Anyone else and it is 10000. Oh, and it affects how much they like you:

# Choose Lloyd: All+60 except Kratos+180 (even though he’s not on the team); Choose anyone else: that person+180 #

The fight is pretty easy: just take out the Sorceress quick and don’t let yourself get caught in between the Duelists. They attack surprisingly quickly and can lock you down for a lot of damage. After you win, go through the east door and continue east a bit. After the scenes return to the Temple of Darkness. (Note that you can fight more in the Coliseum now, but you’re almost certainly not powerful enough to beat the Advanced levels, and the top prizes aren’t available yet anyway.)

*Temple of Darkness*
Follow the path SW then NW all the way and grab the partially hidden chest for an EX Gem Lv.2. Now cross the bridge and enter the Temple proper. Go east and watch the scene, then keep going east and through the door. Go down the stairs and through the first opening you see, then use the RC and you will automatically shoot the stone face with your new ball of darkness. That’s a clue. Grab the face and pull it out as far as you can like you would a block, then return through the opening and go back up the stairs and through the door.

@ Chest 165: EX Gem Lv.2 @

& Coffinmaster, Druid, Manticore, Pharaoh Knight &

Shoot the light with some darkness, then touch the little shadow so that its eye turns blue and it follows you. Continue west. Shoot the next light as well, then contine west and south. Go down the stairs to the south and shoot the face with the light blue eyes, then push it all the way in. After the short scene, shoot the face with the green eyes instead and pull it all the way out. Make sure you have both of the little shadows following you and go down the eastern stairs. At the bottom of these stairs kill the enemy for a Memory Gem, then keep going east under the overhang and open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3. Now go west, passing just south of the stairway you just descended, and shooting out the light on your way. Go south down the ramp, then manipulate the block three spaces east and five spaces north so that the shadow is able to get onto the platform. Go up and around to touch this new shadow, then gather the other two, shoot the light to the east, and bring them all down the ramp going SW. It can be a pain to get them following you properly down the ramp; if one of them is being difficult I will bring the one(s) that actually got onto the ramp properly down so that they stay at the light, then go back up for the others. Once you have managed to sheperd them all down, shoot out the light and bring them west a bit until they take their places here to wait for you to gather their fellows.

@ Chest 166: EX Gem Lv.3 @

Back up the ramp, go west and down to the area where you picked up the thrid shadow. Shoot the face with the bright blue eyes here and push it all the way in. Now go back down the ramp, east down the stairs, and through the door. Make your way up, grabbing the chest with a Headband along the way, and exit through the door at the top. Go south for a Shadow Dancer and another shadow, which you should lead across until it goes to wait for you on its own. Now repeat what you did at the beginning of the Temple: through the door, down the stairs, through the opening, shoot and pull the orange-eyed stone face. Back up the stairs and through the door, lead the fourth shadow to the other three via the same route you took before. Now go down the stairs and into the doorway again. Then up the stairs and into the opening again. Shoot and pull the orange-eyed face again. Up the stairs and out the door to the main room, again. Now go west and find the other face with the orange eyes, just west of the Temple’s entrance, and shove it the rest of the way north into the wall. Go back east and through the door, all the way down the stairs and through the other door, up the stairs, up the ramp, west and south to where you found the block earlier, and east along the narrow gray strip along the south. Follow this to the fifth shadow, then lead it all the way around to where its fellows await. Once they are all gathered together, lead them down the ramp in the NE background.

@ Chest 167: Headband, Chest 168: Shadow Dancer @

Descend the long staircase, then proceed NE and down further steps. Go east and SE here to find an EX Gem Lv.4, then return to the split and go south and follow this path for an EX Gem Lv.2. Make sure all of your shadows are following you and proceed north down yet more steps. Just follow this path as it winds around and descends even further. You will eventually come to an MC. Save and make your way down even more stairs and you will eventually reach the Seal and the boss battle.

BOSS: Shadow
HP: 30000, Weakness: None, Resists: Darkness
Well. No minions, no weaknesses, resists an element you can’t inflict anyway (barring Black Quartz). It is a very standard and not terribly difficult fight. No special tactics needed.

Make your way up and out of the dungeon. You can now visit most of the towns of Tethe’alla for a scene (no one cares about Flanoir, apparently), but there are no mechanical benefits to doing so. We are just about to the point where the second incarnation of the Sword Dancer will disappear if we do not defeat it, however, so let’s go do that now if we haven’t already.

*Goracchia Forest*
Entering from the Mizuho side, go north to the MC, then north and SW until you come to a stationary skull. That is our adversary.

BOSS: Sword Dancer 2
HP: 33333, Weakness: Light, Resists: None
It’s stronger than last time, but... that’s about it. It will combo a little more, cast bigger spells, and has a lot more hit points, but you can defeat it handily with the exact same tactics as last time. Your reward is the Yasakani Jewel, an accessory that prevents all physical status effects. Now get thee to Sylverant!

*Overworld*
The place we wish to go, surprisingly, is Nova’s Caravan. While it moves around throughout the game, at this point it will be east of Hakonesia Peak. Go visit him and his family now and you will receive a LINKITE NUT. Fly to the SW continent and look for the dead tree in the middle of the triangular gap in the middle of the mountains. That is our next destination. Examine the tree for a scene and the LINKITE OCARINA. Next stop: the Tower of Mana. But before you go, make sure you have everything you need from Palmacosta and ALL the Sylverant Seals. Did you greet every dog and flirt with every woman in Palmacosta, Thoda Geyser, and Balacruf Mausoleum? Kill the Fake in Triet Ruins? Grab every chest? Watch the scene with the Imposters? Okay, now go to the Tower of Mana.

*Tower of Mana*
Just make your way up to the top past the now super weak enemies. Surprise! There’s a boss. Were you surprised? I wan’t either.

BOSS: Aska and Luna
HP: 19650 and 18000, Weakness: None and None, Resists: All and Light
Standard twin boss tactics work just fine. Note that Aska is resistant to all elements, so only use purely physical attacks against him. Dual tank and focus on finishing them off one at a time. I got lucky and poisoned Luna, then pretty much ignored her while I thrashed Aska.

Did we do that? Oh well, green thumbs are considered a good thing, right? Sheena leaves us for a while, but Kratos is back. He gains a title too! And gain his level 40 title after a single battle.

! Kratos: Magic Swordsman (HP+2, TP+1, Int+1) Reach level 40.

Kratos: Traitor (TP+2, Def+2, Int+2) !

*Iselia Human Ranch*
& Bowman, Evil Sorcerer, Raybit, Spearman, Whip Master &

Enter and go immediately west for a chest with a Rune Helm. Go down the stairs, use the RC and MC, then go NW. Avoid the red light things as they will hurt you. Now you have to decide on a team to accompany Lloyd. The second team doesn’t fight at all, so don’t worry about their power, but of course it changes affection:

# Reactor Team: Characters picked+60, except Kratos+120 #

@ Chest 169: Rune Helm @

Once your teams are picked grab the Lovely Mittens along the south wall, and note that the big round things are a refresher and a vending machine on the left and right respectively. When you are ready to go, zap the two aqua pillar things on the left, though note that this iteration of the Sorcerer’s Ring drains a little TP from the on-screen character with each use, so don’t go hog wild. It will be good practice for the optional dungeon later. Zap the pillars, go through. When you get through the door there will be an automatic fight against some mooks, after which the two teams will split. Go down the stairs and through the door on the east wall. Keep going east for a Rune Robe. Go up the stairs and west to find another door to zap open. Inside are three more chests containing Aqua Greaves, a Rune Shield, and Rune Mail.

@ Chest 170: Lovely Mittens, Chest 171: Rune Robe, Chest 172: Aqua Greaves, Chest 173: Rune Shield, Chest 174: Rune Mail @

Leave the room and go east, then north at the first opportunity. Open this door and enter the room to find a Rune Guard, a Hairpin, and a Rune Gauntlet. Go back south, east, then south down the steps. Open these chests for a Rune Cloak and Rune Circlet, then go back north. Go down more steps to the NE, then east and south down the corridor to a sealed MC. Enter the door to the east.

@ Chest 175: Rune Guard, Chest 176: Hairpin, Chest 177: Rune Gauntlet, Chest 178: Rune Cloak, Chest 179: Rune Circlet @

Kill the soldier in this room for the Memory Gem and open the chest for a War Hammer. Zap the pillar and take the lift up. Go north and down the steps to find a pair of chests: a Rune Staff and an Ether Sword. Go west across the way for three more chests (this place is like Christmas) containing the Muramasa, Cor Leonis, and Solar Spinner. Now go back east a bit and south to end up back where we started. Use the refresher and stock up on items if you need to, then go back north, east to the lift, and take it back down.

@ Chest 180: War Hammer, Chest 181: Rune Staff, Chest 182: Ether Sword, Chest 183: Muramasa, Chest 184: Cor Leonis, Chest 185: Solar Spinner @

Go back through the western door, unseal and use the MC, then head north, zap the door, dodge the security lights, and use the warp at the end of the corridor to confront the boss.

BOSS: Forcystus
HP: 20000, Weakness: None, Resists: Wind, Minions: 2 Exbones
He’s tough, but ultimately brings nothing new to the table. Smoke ‘im.

Warp out and go back south to the MC you unsealed, then east and up the lift. Now go north, west, and south to exit.

*Iselia*
Exit the house and run over to the school for a scene. Now how about some flirting? There are two women and a little girl wandering around outside the schoolhouse (159, 160, 161). On the screen to the south there is an old woman standing next to the burned out house on the east, another woman wandering around south of her, and a little girl west of her (162, 163, 164). Finally you need to go up and around the item shop to exit NE and find one last woman amongst the trellises (165). Now go speak with Raine by her old house in the west and then approach the town exit to be transported to Dirk’s House.

*Dirk’s House*
Approach Dirk for a quick scene, then speak to whomever you like, it doesn’t matter. To continue, find the person with the current highest affection score on the balcony and speak with him/her. Afterward don’t jump off to Tethe’alla just yet. First go check out the new carving on the second floor of Dirk’s House for what might be the best recipe in the game, Miso Stew, then hop over to Iselia and name the dog on the west side of town. If you have previously watched the scenes with the fake Chosen group in Asgard, Balacruf Mausoleum, and rebuilt Luin, you can now watch one more by returning to Asgard once more. Okay, now go to Tethe’alla.

*Altamira*
Don’t go straight to Altessa’s, though. Let’s stop off in Altamira first, making sure that Lloyd is the on-screen character. You’ll receive a FREE PASS and your next stay at the hotel will be comped. Visit the memorial in the NE corner of the first screen. Presea earns the title Mature Kid.

! Presea: Mature Kid (HP+7, TP+2, Acc+3) !

Cross the bridge toward the ferry, and if you got the Pink Pearl Ring from Sybak earlier, you now have a chance to end or continue that side-quest. There is no change to affection either way, so if you want the scenes accept the woman’s request. Now continue to the ferry and let’s hit that Amusement Park! Here there are a series of choices:

# “Me too!”: Colette+60, Regal+180, or “I dunno, coffee’s pretty great.”: Raine+180, Kratos+60; “Then I pick Colette!”: Colette+120, “Then I pick Regal!”: Regal+180, “Then I pick (character)”: (character)+60 #

Now leave Altamira and start flying around the ocean, keeping an eye out (there may be a tiny white speck on your map to indicate what we are looking for). And what are we keeping an eye out for? A flying city, of course! When you find it, land upon it.

*Exire*
Where you phyisically landed affects where you start on the map, so you may need to skip around if you landed somewhere different from where I did. On the first island you will find a dog to name, and on the second a young woman, an old woman, and a little girl (166, 167, 168). On this same island is the Elder’s house; enter and speak with him. Outside, go NW to the next screen.

Walk along the bridge and speak to the woman in the window (169), then at the top of the stairs use the walkway to enter the door. Ignore the Katz and go downstairs. Check the model Rheaird here to learn how to make Shortcake. Go further downstairs and speak to this woman (170), then exit the building and climb the stairs here. On this island greet the woman and the dog (171), and on the next one there is one last old woman (172). Approach the house here, then enter it when you are able. Now go back to the Elder and speak to him again. Say yes to receive VIRGINIA’S DIARY and Raine+180. Go ahead and go to Altessa’s now.

*Altessa’s House*
Enter for a scene, leave and fly to Sybak.

*Sybak*
Head north. If you continued the side-quest with the student while in Meltokio, there is a scene now. Now go to the library. There is a scene and a choice:

# “I trust Kratos.”: Colette+120, Genis+120, Raine+120, Kratos+180, Sheena+60, Zelos+60, Presea+60, Regal+60; or “There is a possibility.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine+60, Kratos+60, Sheena+120, Zelos+180, Presea+120, Regal+120 #

After this head right back to Altessa’s and speak with Mithos for a scene and a choice:

# “Let them do what they want.”: Raine+60, or “I’d better keep tabs on them.”: Genis+180 and Genis’ Friend title.

Search the Exsphere on the table: take a field trip to the Toize Valley Mine (minus your lowest affection character) and make your way to the bridge near the back: Presea+180 #

! Genis: Friend (Str+4, Def+3) !

It’s Meltokio time again.

*Meltokio*
When you quick jump you may be surprised to find yourself in the sewer instead of directly in the city proper (except you won’t be surprised, because you read this). Take a single step south and watch the very satisfying scene unfold. Afterward continue up the ladder into the city.

Proceed with all haste to the church! Except... take a quick sidetrip to the rich quarter to see a scene if you are pursuing the side quest with Joshua and Rosa. But then to the church! Enter the door in the NW for a couple scenes and a title for Colette.

! Spiritua Reborn (HP+4, Str+5, Eva+3) !

Now exit to the south, go east, down the stairs, and enter the double doors to your right. Exit, go down the stairs to the south, west, and speak to the princess. You will obtain the KING’S LETTER. Exit the castle for another choice:

# “Yeah, you’re right.”: Colette+180, Genis+120, Raine+120, Kratos-180, Sheena+180, Zelos+180, Presea+120, Regal+180; or “We can’t just ignore it.”: Colette+60, Genis-120, Raine+60, Kratos+180, Sheena-60, Zelos-180, Presea-60, Regal+60 #

Hey, guess what? Now that we’re no longer wanted, we don’t have to sneak through the sewers any longer! And even better, we have access to the Sybak Academy Cafeteria again! Yay! Now let’s hit up the Lezareno Company in Altamira once more.

*Altamira*
Take the lift to the President’s office and speak with George; Regal will gain a title.

! Regal: Eternal Sinner (TP+2, Eva+5, Acc+5) !

Now go down to 2F for a scene. And now let’s go up to the Sky Terrace once more and approach the grave for a scene:

# “Join him in prayer.”: Presea+180, Regal+180; or “Watch quietly.”: Regal+60 #

Consider this popsicle stand blown and fly to Sybak.

*Sybak*
Speak to Joshua again for a choice:

# “Tell the truth.”: Colette+60, Genis+60, Raine-60, Sheena+60, Zelos-60, Presea-60, Regal+60; or “Keep quiet.”: Colette+120, Genis-60, Raine+60, Sheena-60, Zelos+60, Presea+60, Regal+120 #

Then head over to the Academy and enter for a quick scene. Enter the western door and the first door in the hallway to find a chest with the ZIRCON we need.

*Overworld*
Now it’s time to see an elf about a leaf. We want to fly to the NW part of the SE continent and enter the forest on the lake. Here’s the enemy list for this continent, by the way:

& Baby Boar, Boar, Red Mantis, Scarlet Needle, Storm Claw; Forest: Killer Bee, Red Mantis, Storm Claw; Beach: Kraaken, Sea Horse, Super Star &

*Ymir Forest*
& Armaboar (rare), Baby Boar, Boar, Dodo, Orcrot, Storm Claw &
Go straight north and use the RC for probably the most amusing Ring power: summoning animals. Jump on the stump with the pink flowers and the butterfly just to your right and use the Ring to test it out. Also run around behind the tree here and open the hidden chest for a Resist Ring. Now go south and east along the walkway. At the fork go north and open the chest behind this tree for a Gladius, then go back south and check this chest to find out it is stuck. Hop on the flowery stump and summon a boar to unstick it, then open it for a Solar Guard. Go back north and west at the second fork, then follow this to the next screen.

@ Chest 186: Resist Ring, Chest 187: Gladius, Chest 188: Solar Guard @

Head west at the northern fork to see a short scene about fish. Then go back again and this time go east and keep following the walkway east until your character automatically stops and looks up at something in the tree. You know what the pink flowers on the stump mean by now, so get to it, then grab both the BLUE SEED and the Crystal Shell behind the tree. Now go back all the way west, south, and around to the RC and plant the Blue Seed in the soil to the left of the tree.

@ Chest 189: Crystal Shell @

Do you see that giant root just west of the RC island? You can walk right up that. Do so now. Follow the path NE to the next screen. At the end of the pathway follow the giant root down onto the lower walkway, then go west and hop onto the lilypad, on which you should use your Ring to move a chest to where you’ll shortly be able to grab it. Hop back off and go east and around until you have to climb another giant root up to the catwalks once more. Go west and around to yet another root/branch/whatever and take it down to where you can save if you wish as well as grab the two chests for a Maid’s Hairband and the WHITE SEED. Speak to the elf child if you want, but it won’t do much yet. Go all the way back to the RC now and plant the Seed.

@ Chest 190: Maid’s Hairband @

You’ll see a white flower bloom on the branch to your right, so climb up there and hop on the branch, then use the Ring to be transported elsewhere. Push the crate off the branch and use the Ring again at the white flowers to return. Hop off the small branch and make your way back to the area with the MC, but instead of going west to that island, go east, down, east to the next screen, up, hop on the branch and get transported again. Here go east and summon a boar to smash the boulder, then fly back with the flowers once more. Go east and down the root, then east, crossing the crate we shoved earlier, and summon a boar on this stump to drop the fruit we need.

You can see the butterfly hovering above the flower we need next, just SW of our position. Go west, up the root, south, down the root, and hop up onto the stump. Summon a boar to knock down a bug which distracts the big fish, then quickly jump down and go south, east, north to the lilypad, jump on and summon the little fish to move the fruit. Now head west, up the root, north, down the root, and use the Ring on the stump here. Back up the root, south, down the root, west and find the lilypad with the butterfly. Summon a fish then follow it west. Hop on the lilypad and wait. You want to use the Ring right after the big fish starts moving again after a pause or the fruit will get eaten and we’ll have to start over. Go back east and south to the first screen, then go all the way around to the lilypad west of the RC Island and summon one more fish (not the one on the north part of the island, mind you, but next to the walkway to the west). Now go grab the fruit from the shore behind the tree on the RC island. Take the YMIR FRUIT and bring it to the little brat whom we could have easily just killed and hid the body... He’ll give you a Metal Sphere and let you pass.

*Heimdall*
Yay, more racism! There’s a weapons/armor/customization shop to your NW as you enter.

$ Twilight Arms – Heimdall $
Wasier Rapier 6400
Solar Spinner 5980
Northern Lights 5400
Rune Staff 5000
Yaksa 5900
Gladius 6400
Ether Sword 6000
War Hammer 6300
Crystal Shell 6200

Wasier Rapier – Saint Rapier + Magical Cloth + Mythril + Mermaid’s Tear
Solar Spinner – Mythril Ring + Black Silver + White Silver + Brass
Gladius – Flame Dagger + Mythril + Magical Cloth + Metal Sphere
Battle Pick – Bardiche + Magical Cloth + Beast Hide + Mystic Herb
Crystal Shell – Mythril Greaves + Mythril + Beast Fang + White Silver
Reflect – Breastplate + Mythril + White Silver
Solar Guard – Silver Guard + Mythril
Draupnir – Lapis Bracelet + Metal Sphere + Beast Fang + Beast Hide

$ Twilight Armory – Heimdall $
Rune Mail 5000
Rune Guard 4800
Rune Cloak 4800
Rune Robe 4400
Rune Helm 4000
Rune Hat 3000
Rune Circlet 4600
Rune Shield 5000
Rune Gauntlet 3000
Rune Cape 5600
Rune Boots 6000

First craft as much as you can of the following: 2 Reflects, Solar Guard, and 4 Draupnir. I then bought a Wasier Rapier, Yaksa, Rune Cloak, Rune Helm, Rune Hat, and Rune Gauntlet. Don’t forget to equip Regal’s Personal skill for that discount! There’s also a woman in here (173)! Go back outside.

Get up on the porch of the item shop to the NE and head over to flirt with the woman here (174). The item shop itself sells all the normal gels and bottles at the normal prices, which I will not bother to list again here. North of here you can cross the river to the inn. Inside, hit on the woman right next to the entrance as well as the one in the room to the west (175, 176). Back outside, hit up the woman watching her laundry dry to the east, the one wandering around the bridges to the east of her, and the one standing in front of the bench to the south (177, 178, 179). Go back to the inn, but not inside. Instead go between the pillars and under the inn so that Colette can get to the doggy. Exit west next.

There is a woman on the west end standing in front of a house, as well as one inside (180, 181). Hit on the one standing at the base of the windmill and the one across the river to the north standing with her little brother (182, 183). Do what you did at the inn and go under the house here, then west and over the little bridge to find another woman (184), and the final dog! Colette will earn the Dog Lover title.

! Colette: Dog Lover (Int+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) !

Go back and enter the north house to speak with the Elder. You will acquire the ELF ELDER’S STAFF. Afterward, check the painting to learn my other favorite recipe, Cream Soup (it even cures KO!). Now exit the village and quick jump out of there. Don’t forget to equip Genis and Raine with any new equipment you obtained for them! Let’s pop in at the HoG just over the mountains to the SE.

*Heimdall House of Guidance*
Cute little kitty! It is ridiculous that Colette only gets excited over dogs. Anyway, hit on the woman outside and the one upstairs and we are done here (185, 186). Just hop directly over the mountains to the west and enter Latheon Gorge.

*Latheon Gorge*
& Crush Tortoise, Deathseeker, Poison Lily, Sea Dragon, Sheldra, Spiked Snail &

Go north as far as you can to find an EX Gem Lv.4. Now go south, a tad east, and south to use the RC. Go back north, east, and around for Rare Pellets, then go up the ramp and use the Ring while standing in front of the flower. You’ll have to time it so that its breath catches you before the bubble pops. Go north to the cliff and follow it east to the Kirima tree. Take a few til you’re full up, then go back to the wilted flower and feed it a Kirima to revive it. Now have this flower blow you SE. Go east along the path and across the bridge to the next screen.

@ Chest 191: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 192: Rare Pellets @

Take the path SE to an EX Gem Lv.3, then head up the ramp to the south and grab another one. Go down the ramp to the SW and open the black chest for Diablos. Now go east up another ramp, past a Kirima tree, and around to a withered flower which you should revive. Go back to south and around and have this flower blow you north; the flower you just revived will then push you west to another plateau. Go up the NW ramp and around to an Amango tree; just like with the Kirima, pick til you can’t carry anymore. Now head north to the next screen.

@ Chest 193: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 194: EX Gem Lv.3 @

Go north to the cliff and look west for a chest with an EX Gem Lv.4. Revive the nearby flower, then allow the purple flower to blow you west. Revive the flower here and let it blow you north, then check the chest to the west for a Star Cap. Go east and get yourself blown SW, then SE. Grab the chest for a Rare Shield, then get blown south. You’re back on the screen where you found the Diablos, so climb on up and past the empty chest and let the flower here blow you north again, then exit north past the Amango tree.

@ Chest 195: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 196: Star Cap @

Go north and up the ramp to the east, then revive the flower here. Let the southern flower blow you west, then let the flower here blow you north and grab the Flare Greaves. Take the path east and grab the Toroid, then go up the ramp and revive the flower. Back down the ramp, let the flower to the west blow you back south again, then let the purple flower blow you west.

@ Chest 197: Flare Greaves, Chest 198: Toroid @

Let the nearby flower blow you NW, then feed an Amango to the flower on the right to wither it (sorry dude!). Get blown south and revive both of the flowers here. Go down the ramp to the east and up the next one, then wither this flower too. Go back down and up the ramps to the two flowers you just revived and let the flower blow you south for an EX Gem Lv.4. Get blown south again and find yourself in a familiar place.

@ Chest 199: EX Gem Lv.4 @

Go up the NE ramp and get blown west, then SE, then follow the path east over the bridge. Go up the SE ramp and get yourself blown north, then follow the path up and around past the Amango tree again. Go up the ramp to the east, let the southern flower blow you west, then climb the ramp and get blown west by the purple flower. You are now back on the screen you left to grab the EX Gem on the cliffside. Now go down the ramp and up the ramp to the west, then let the flower blow you NE. Revive this flower, then keep going up and get blown east.

Get blown west, then get blown east twice. Revive the flower, get blown west, revive this flower, and enter the cave. The chest here is the last Fake of the game. This one can cast spells, so make sure your tank has an elemental attack in order to stagger it. As usual with a Fake, bringing Colette can be useful for stealing an extra All-Divide. When it is defeated you will obtain an All-Divide and an Elixer. Head up the ramps and kill the slug for a Memory Gem, then keep going up and grab a Draupnir. Back down the ramps, head west and south to exit the cave. Revive the flower and get yourself blown east three times in a row, then climb the steep ramp north.

@ Chest 200: Draupnir @

Take the switchback north and revive the flower, then cross the bridge and revive this one too. Go back to the east side and get yourself blown NW. Now go west, then south and open the chest for a Battle Pick, then return to the house you passed and enter. Examine the object in the closet behind the man to learn the Pescatore recipe, then speak to the man. Head SW, then east to teh next screen.

@ Chest 201: Battle Pick @

Get yourself blown east, prepare yourself for a boss fight, save, and enter the cave.

BOSS: Plantix
HP: 36000, Weakness: Fire, Resists: Earth
Meh. Easy. Burn it to a crisp. By the way, because this enemy never moves, cannot be knocked back, and is large, it is easy to rack up massive combos against it.

You receive the MANA LEAF HERB for your troubles. Go inside and speak to the man again for a lot of exposition. Dun dun DUN! Next we want to go to the SE Abbey, which is, appropriately enough, on the island at the SE corner of the map.

*SE Abbey*
Flirt with the two priestesses outside, then enter the church and go upstairs. Speak to the girl with the oversized hat, then leave.

*Overworld*
Some stuff we can do before we head off to the Tower of Salvation. Let’s go first to Meltokio.

*Meltokio*
If you try to enter Zelos’ home, you will unlock one of his titles and alternate costumes, the Masked Swordsman.

! Zelos: Masked Swordsman (No change) !

Now go inside and speak with Jeeves, I mean Sebastian, and then go to the castle. Leave the city and go to the Tethe’alla Bridge for a scene, then go to the Goracchia Forest from the Ozette/Mizuho side. Defeat two Duelists and a Heavy Armor to capture the Pope, save the Princess, and earn Zelos the Princess Guard title.

! Zelos: Princess Guard (Str+4, Def+2) !

# Save the Princess: Zelos+180 #

Where to next? If you are at least level 70 (or lower, but don’t suck as much as I do at controlling Sheena), let’s take care of that duel in Mizuho.

*Mizuho*
Enter Mizuho for a scene and a choice:

# “Kuchinawa was working with the Pope.”: Sheena-180; or “I don’t know anything about it.”: Sheena+180; First party member spoken to in town +60, or speak to Orochi to skip. #

Speak to Orochi at the town entrance and tell him you are ready. Hope you are, because this fight is annoying.

BOSS: Kuchinawa
HP: 10000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
I ended up having to put it on auto-battle to win this fight, because the AI sucked less at controlling Sheena than I, so I’m afraid I don’t have any good advice here except be over-leveled...

If you win you get an Asura and Corrine’s Bell is returned. If you lose it’s not game over, but your shame knows no bounds.

# Lose the duel with Kuchinawa: Sheena-180; Win the duel with Kuchinawa: “Stop him.”: Colette+120, Genis+120, Raine+60, Sheena+180, Zelos+180, Presea+60, Regal+120, or “Don’t stop him.”: Colette-120, Genis-60, Raine+180, Sheena+120, Zelos-120, Presea+120, Regal+180 #

How about Altamira next? We can swing by the Company building and chat with our old friend George.

*Altamira*
At the Lezareno Company ride the lift up to the President’s Office. Presea will gain a new outfit and the title Dream Traveller.

! Presea: Dream Traveller (No change) !

If you watched the two scenes with Luan searching for something important at Hima and the Fooji Mountains, you can now watch the third one if you travel to the ruins of the Palmacosta Human Ranch. Either way, once you’re done, head to the Tower of Salvation in Tethe’alla.

*Tower of Salvation*
Follow the linear path, watch the scenes along the way, and fight another don’t have to win to continue the story boss fight.

BOSS: Redacted
HP: 25000, Weakness: None, Resists: Light, Lightning
Same as last time, but much tougher. If you can manage the same resists that the boss has himself, they will serve you well. Use the same boss tactics as usual, but be extra ready with the block button to prevent being hit by a devastating combo. While you don’t have to win to continue, a victory will meen lots of experience, Energy Tablets, and an EX Gem Lv.4.

Even if you win you are captured, then there is a scene in which it becomes obvious we should be sorry that Regal made that vow about not killing with his hands. Examine the glowing platform to make it move to the main floor, then go west and up the stairs to the warp. There is a very short sequence with Colette pulling boxes out of the way which I question the need for, then you are free to warp up to the main part of Welgaia.

*Welgaia*
Enter the north building here, then the west door and open the black chest for Apocalypse. Exit the building and enter the eastern building instead. Speak to the guard angel here. You will receive the MANA FRAGMENT. Now exit this building and take the conveyor north to the next screen. Follow the path east and northeast until you reach the next screen after that. Climb the steps and go east, examining the machine in the third alcove on the bottom (the one with the lights off). Now check the next one to the east and read all three entries. If you are low on items after the last battle, you can take the lift up here to access a vending machine. When finished, go back west and down the steps, then down further steps to the south and go east to the bottom platform, which will take you across the gap to the warp. There’s a scene and then a dungeon.

Go SW past the MC and down the stairs.

& Cybit, Hammer Knuckle, Murder, Perfect Murder &

Go directly SW from the stairs and open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3, then keep going SW and follow this corridor until you descend more stairs. Follow the only path and take the door on the NE wall when you can. Here we have another iteration of everyone’s favorite: the slide puzzle. Go right, down, left, up, left, up, left, down, left, up, left, down, right, down, right, down, right, up, and right. Now exit to the east. Grab the SE chest for an EX Gem Lv.4, then push the big red button to unlock some gates throughout the complex. Return to the slide room and go left, down, left, down, and left to exit.

@ Chest 202: EX Gem Lv. 3, Chest 203: Ex Gem Lv.4 @

Go SE and follow the passage for a Rare Guard. Go back NW and up the stairs, then follow the corridor NE. At the first opportunity turn NW again and take the new passage past a doorway and down more stairs. Go SW then take the first two paths SE into little cubbies containing a Nagazuki and a Laser Blade. Continue NW and press the blue button to unlock more gates. Now go back the way you came and back up the stairs.

@ Chest 204: Nagazuki, Chest 205: Laser Blade @

Go straight NE along the corridor and through the door. At the first opportunity turn SE and descend the stairs. Along the western wall you’ll find an EX Gem Lv.3, then go NE a bit and NW to a side room with a Dragon Fang. Follow the hallway NE and ascend go back upstairs. Follow this corridor, picking up a Holy Robe along the way, and exit though the doorway in the SW corner. Go NW and you’re right back at the beginning (climb the nearby stairs to use the MC if you like), and it’s time to return to the slide puzzle. Go SW and follow the corridor down the stairs, then through the NE door.

@ Chest 206: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 207: Dragon Fang, Chest 208: Holy Robe @

Go right, down, left, up, left, up, left, down, left, up, left, down, left, down, right, up, and right. Examine the lift to go up to... another slide puzzle room. Sigh. Down, right, up, left, up, right, up, right, down, right, down, right, up, left, and up through the door. Follow the corridor around and turn NE when you can to grab a chest with Energy Tablets. Go back and take the south fork to find yourself in a different spot in the slide puzzle room. Left, up, left, down, right, down, right, down, right, up, left, and down. Use the lift to go down, then slide left to another lift and take that further down. Left, up, right, up, right, down, right, down, left, down, left, up, left, down, left, up, right, down, right, up, and right through the door. Grab the Holy Circlet in the chest and the glowy blue thing for the ELEVATOR KEY.

@ Chest 209: Energy Tablets, Chest 210: Holy Circlet @

Return to the slide puzzle for one last sequence: left, down, left, up, left, down, and right to the lift, which you should take up, then just go right, up (don’t use the lift), and left through the door. Go NW back up the stairs, follow the corridor around and go NW again and through the NE door. Just go straight NE and examine the slot next to the door on the NW wall, then enter it and activate the blue, glowy orb. Head SW and grab the partially hidden chest against the wall for an EX Gem Lv.2. Take the corridor west and down the stairs. Use the warp, watch the scene, and get your butt kicked.

@ Chest 211: EX Gem Lv.2 @

*Altessa’s House*
Don’t worry about healing, just exit the Tower via the warps. You’ll automatically go to Altessa’s. Save if you like and enter the house. You’ll be healed, then there will be a lot of scenes, tons of exposition (oh no!), and a fight with an Angel Commander and two Angel Swordions. Now fly off to Flanoir.

*Flanoir*
Go to the doctor’s office in the NE part of town to collect Zelos, but don’t enter yet. Instead go west toward the ice sculptures in the NW corner. There will be a quick scene and choice:

# “What? Tell me.”: Zelos+120, or “Weirdo.”: No change #

Okay, now go enter the doctor’s office and speak to him. Now it is time for the most complicated affection-based event in the game, and the one that makes it require so many bloody runthroughs to get every achievement.

# Flanoir Doctor Event: (Not counting Kratos) the four characters with the lowest affection scores will leave with the doctor. The three highest will remain in Flanoir with Lloyd. That night the three characters with the highest affection (this time including Kratos) will visit Lloyd in order from highest to lowest. You can only pick one to have a scene with. Three of them (Colette, Kratos, and Zelos) will give you unique items and five of them (Colette, Genis, Kratos, Zelos, and Regal) minimum are required to get second extra costumes for all the characters. That means, to get all the achievements, it is a minimum of four full playthroughs, plus a fifth most of the way through, just because of this one event.

Characters you reject: -180, Character you choose: +180; and Pick Kratos: Zelos-180, or Pick anyone but Kratos: Zelos+180. (Note these are cumulative, so say Zelos had the most affection and Kratos was second, you could reject Zelos and then pick Kratos and end up with a total -360 on Zelos’ affection score!)

Finally, I try to avoid spoilers, but this is something that needs planning ahead. If you want to avoid the spoilers then skip to the next paragraph now. I’ll wait. Okay. If you pick Kratos at this event then he will rejoin you later and you will lose someone else for good. If you pick anyone but Kratos then he will not rejoin you again. Obviously you must have at least one playthrough of each to obtain all achievements, as you will not be able to get all the end-game titles for both Kratos and the other character in one playthrough. #

Once all the scenes are done, return to Flanoir once more and speak to Abyssion about the Devil’s Arms. Just one more to collect, but other things first. If you watched and investigated all the scenes with Kratos skulking about you can see one more now by going to Altessa’s and entering the house. Let’s go to Meltokio now.

*Meltokio*
Enter the slums to watch the scene with Genis, the Katz, and the little boy. Also see a scene with Joshua and Rosa if you told him the truth at the end of their questline. Go across to the item shop now and speak to the Katz inside to learn you have to go to their village. Later. Now let’s go to the wealthy district.

Go to Zelos’ house and speak with Sebastian. Now go to the castle. Lloyd gains the alternate costume title Nobleman.

! Lloyd: Nobleman (No change) !

You then get to make a choice:

# “I bet it’s (character)”: (character)+180, or “I wonder who it is.”: Kratos+180. Whoever you choose, you will automatically gain their formal-wear alternate costume title. If you wonder who it is, it will turn out to be the character with whom you have the most affection, barring Kratos. You then get to chat with three more party members at the party (through the doors to the north), earning their formalwear titles, but no extra affection. Note this means you must play through at least twice to earn all character’s formalwear titles.#

! Colette: Fair Lady (No change)

Genis: Easter Sunday (No Change)

Raine: Glamorous Beauty (No Change)

Sheena: You Look Great! (No Change)

Zelos: Narcissist (No Change)

Presea: Little Madam (No Change)

Regal: Dandy (No Change) !

Return to the castle and speak to the maids in the NW corner of the east wing. You will earn 100 gald and Colette’s Maid alternate costume title.

! Colette: Maid (No change) !

Okay, let’s now visit the island just north of the west continent and enter the Hot Spring.

*Hot Spring*
Enter the church and flirt with both the priestess in the back and the old woman upstairs (187, 188). Oh my, could this be all of them? Doesn’t matter since we can’t get the title yet. Go outside and speak to the old priest for a scene. Then speak to him again and choose “Yes.” and “Females.” for another scene and a few titles. Yes, with an L.

! Lloyd: Peeping Tom (Int+5, Eva+5)

Colette: Ironing Board (HP+5, Def+4)

Sheena: WOW! (HP+5, Def+4) !

Onwards, to Sybak!

*Sybak*
Speak to the little boy on your right as you come in. Speak to any three characters around the plaza, watch the scene, and take your affection.

# Help the little boy find his mother: Zelos+180 #

Okay, how about Mizuho next?

*Mizuho*
Speak to Orochi outside the chief’s hut, then enter and speak with Tiga. Temple of Lightning field trip! Just run through to the Seal. You can speak to three characters before the next scene ends; the first one gains +60 affection. Sheena now gains the Successor title.

! Sheena: Successor (No change) !

Speak to the chief again for another brief scene, if you like, then go to Altamira.

*Altamira*
Speak to the woman standing in front of the hotel steps and choose to help her.

# “Sure.”: Colette+180, “That sounds like a pain.”: Colette-60, can’t continue quest. #

Go to the beach and speak to the little kid at the south end. Now return and enter the hotel and ascend to the 2nd floor. Speak to the little girl reading the bulletin board. Leave the hotel and go to the Amusement Park. Speak to the little girl in front of the ticket booth and go back. Speak to the mother, then return to the Amusement Park and speak to the little girl again. Now go back to the beach once more. Speak to the girl in front of the bar hut, then return to the mother one last time. Enter the hotel and speak to the receptionist. Lloyd earns the title Beach Boy, and then you can choose another character to earn +180 affection and their beach alternate costume title. Besides Lloyd and the one you pick, the two highest affection characters (again, barring Kratos) join you and earn their costumes. Speak to all three of your fellows to end the scene and return to the hotel.

! Lloyd: Beach Boy (No change)

Colette: Mermaid (No change)

Genis: Beach Comber (No change)

Raine: No, Not the Sun! (No change)

Sheena: Queen of the Beach (No change)

Zelos: Pickup Artist (No change)

Presea: First Timer at Sea (No change)

Regal: Swimmer (No change) !

If you chose Sheena or Zelos at the Flanoir Doctor event and have Sheena’s Successor title, stay the night at the Altamira inn and choose to go out at night. When you return to the hotel you’ll be treated to a scene. If you chose Sheena, she will receive another title; if you chose Zelos, both he and Sheena will earn one!

! Sheena: Star Straddler (No change)

Zelos: Altamiran Rider (No change) !

And one more thing: if you chose Regal at the Flanoir Doctor event, go speak with George in the President’s Office to receive a title for Regal.

! Regal: The Duke (No change) !

I do believe it is time to give Sylverant another visit, don’t you? Head to Hakonesia Peak.

*Hakonesia Peak*
Speak to the old coot to obtain the Heart of Chaos, the final Devil’s Arm. If this at least your third time through the game and you’ve obtained all the entries in the Collector’s Book, speak to him again to game the title Item Collector for Genis.

! Genis: Item Collector (HP+10, Str+10) !

And now let’s go to Luin.

*Luin*
Assuming you spent the gald to get the place all fixed up, go to the SW part of the docks to find a gentleman of the piratical persuasion standing on a gangplank. Speak to him and buy yourself a houseboat. Leave town and reenter to find him again in the same place.

# “Okay.”: Colette+60, Genis-60, Raine-60, Sheena+60, Zelos+60, Presea-60, Regal-60; or “No way.”: Genis+60, Raine+60, Sheena-60, Presea+60, Regal+60. You can choose the latter, then leave town and come back to agree. Only the first answer affects affection. #

! Lloyd: Arrgh, Me Hearties (No change) !

We now want to visit and enter all three Houses of Salvation (Iselia, Palmacosta, and Asgard), then Thoda Dock and speak to the old priest out on the pier. You’ll receive SPIRITUA’S RING. Go to Hima and up the mountain path a bit to find Aifread again. You’ll now get AIFREAD’S LETTER, which you should take to Lyla in Izoold. Finish up by going to the docks and speaking with Max to receive Aifread’s Hat.

*Asgard*
Stop by Asgard and climb up to the dais to receive Raine’s Maiden title.

! Raine: Maiden (No change) !

*Katz Village*
Now let’s head on over to the village on the NE tip of the NW continent, Katz Village. Make your way to the top of this strange place and speak with the Elder.

There are now two optional super bosses we could take on: a third tussle with the Sword Dancer, who is now hanging out in Iselia Woods near Dirk’s House, and a special boss related to the Devil’s Arms if we take all of them down to the Darkness Seal. Both are likely too strong for us at this point, however, so let’s save them until the real endgame, okay? Go back to Tethe’alla.

*Meltokio*
Head back to the slums to watch a scene, after which Genis will earn the title Katz Katz Katz.

! Genis: Katz Katz Katz (No change) !

I think it is time to return to the Tower of Salvation.

*Tower of Salvation*
Start up the stairs, then use the warp instead. If you chose Kratos during the Flanoir Doctor event you’ll have to fight a special boss now (this is the only way to fight this enemy, so you’ll need to do it on at least one playthrough to complete your Monster Book). If you chose anyone else, you will instead fight the Gatekeeper (again, only way to fight this enemy, so minimum two playthroughs to fight all enemies) and 2 Angel Swordions.

BOSS: Redacted
HP: 28000, Weakness: None, Resists: Light, Lightning
Just use the same tactics you did against the other redacted boss.

& Angel Archer, Angel Spearman, Angel Swordian, Bomb Plant, Bomb Seedling, Evil Orchid, Idun, Mocking Plant &
This is the only place in the game to fight Angel Archers, so make sure you encounter at least one.

Save your game and head NE. When you reach a root blocking your way, burn it with your Ring. Keep going NE and through the door. Jump onto the platform in the middle of the room. Open the chest for a Diamond Shell and ascend the steps along the north wall. Jump onto the platform again and take it east to the other side of the room and through the door there. Go south and follow the path around until you have a chance to turn NE. Burn the roots out of the way with three blasts, then grab the chests for an Ogre Ax, Hanuman’s Staff, and Southern Cross. Go back and keep following the passage ultimately west until you reach a set of stairs, which you should climb.

@ Chest 212: Diamond Shell, Chest 213: Ogre Ax, Chest 214: Hanuman’s Staff, Chest 215: Southern Cross @

Go immediately up the next set of stairs, then follow the passage until it expands out. Go south for a chest with a Heavenly Robe, then go NE, and at the branch keep going NE for Energy Tablets, then go SE. At the first fork go NE again for an EX Gem Lv.4 and Star Mail. Return and go SW and through the door. Grab the Phoenix Cloak from the chest, then throw fire at the the roots until they drop the giant stone. Back through the door, go NW when you can and follow the passage back to the staircase, which you should take down. Go south here and activate the console to open the door.

@ Chest 216: Heavenly Robe, Chest 217: Energy Tablets, Chest 218: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 219: Star Mail, Chest 220: Phoenix Cloak @

Follow the passage and turn NE when possible. Take the doorway to find yourself back in the room with the (no longer) tilting platform. Go down the stairs along the north wall and take the platform up to the east where you can grab the Star Guard. Up the stairs and onto the warp with you! Descend the steps for a fight with two Angel Swordions. After the scene, go NE for an EX Gem Lv.3, and SW for a Shaman Dress and a vending machine. When you’re ready, save and head through the warp.

@ Chest 221: Star Guard, Chest 222: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 223: Shaman Dress @

Descend the long stairs and watch the scene. Now follow the passage and grab the chest shortly after turning SE for a Star Helm. Keep going all the way around the spiral, past the MC, and take the warp at the end. Proceed toward the console for another predictable scene and a couple automatic fights against mooks. Go the only way you can until you come to a fork. SE leads to a save and SW to a chest with a Star Shield and the warp to continue. I bet you won’t be able to guess what happens in the next scene (/sarcasm). Down the stairs and inspect the door, by the way. Go NE to the first fork, then SE to the end and a chest with a Star Circlet. Go NE past the save, and turn NW at the wall. Take this to the end to find an EX Gem Lv.3. Return the way you came. At the warp turn SW and follow this to a chest containing a Star Gauntlet, then go back to the warp and take it to your destination. Go north and turn east for a Star Bracelet, west for an EX Gem Lv.2, then keep going north. After the inevitable scene, go SE, then turn NE at the first opportunity and follow this passage to a chest with an EX Gem Lv.4. Return to where you started and go NE, then turn SE at the first chance to find a Spirit Bottle. Go back and head NE to the MC, then SE to the warp. Go the only possible way you can go, then watch a scene and fight a boss.

@ Chest 224: Star Helm, Chest 225: Star Shield, Chest 226: Star Circlet, Chest 227: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 228: Star Gauntlet, Chest 229: Star Bracelet, Chest 230: EX Gem Lv.2. Chest 231: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 232: Spirit Bottle @

BOSS: Pronyma
HP: 32000, Weakness: Light, Resists: Darkness, Minions: 2 Idun
Aw, a boss with an easily exploitable weakness at this point in the game? How cute! Pick your team, equip and heal them properly, and get ready to brawl. Same tactics as always: kill minions first, then just tank the boss while your casters blast, preferably with her weakness, and heal. The minions like to dish out the status ailments, though, so be ready with those Panacea and Miracle Bottles.

BOSS: Yggdrasil
HP: 40000, Weakness: Darkness, Resists: Light
So, this time you have to actually win. Bummer. You can equip the Amethyst to a fighter, and use any extra Black Quartz on another if you want to exploit his weakness. He’s fairly standard in tactics except that he has an attack that is unblockable even by guard techs. If you see him getting ready to use it on you, get the hell out of there. Oh yeah, he can even stop time, but doesn’t tend to do much with the few seconds it grants, so it’s not a big deal. If you bring Sheena and she hits overlimit, summon Shadow for huge damage.

Now leave the tower. If this is at least your second time through and you’ve filled up your Monster Book you can go visit Nova again (I found him in the Triet desert, not sure if he’s always there at this point in the game or not) and get that title for Raine.

# “Yeah.”: Raine+60, or “I don’t know about that.”: Raine-60 #

! Raine: Monster Collector (TP+3, Int+10) !

*Heimdall*
Don’t worry about healing right now, just go to Heimdall. It doesn’t matter which of your party you speak to during the break, if any. Speak to Colette at the entrance to the inn to stay the night and continue. If your Flanoir Doctor character was anyone but Kratos, you get a scene with them during the night. In the morning go the western part of town and you’ll be allowed into Torent Forest. NOTE: If you picked Colette at the Flanoir Doctor event, do not go straight to the forest. Instead go visit Dirk’s house to obtain a title for her. It can only be obtained during the narrow window between sleeping in Heimdall and fighting the boss in Torent Forest, so do it now!

! Colette: Twinsies (No change) !

*Torent Forest*
& Alraune, Bellpepper Head, Carnivorous Plant, Cutlass, Gold Dragon, Man-eater, Torent &

Go NE to the fork, then NW and west when possible. Take the southern fork at the next junction for a Stardust. Now go east back to the stump and just keep going east until you find a chest with a Crystal Dagger. From here go back west, then north at the first fork and exit to the next screen.

@ Chest 233: Stardust, Chest 234: Crystal Dagger @

Go west at the fork for an Acalanatha, then back east all the way to the next screen, picking up an Angel’s Tear in plain view along the way. Go east on the next screen and kill the flower just north of the pond for a Memory Gem. Go east from here to fight the Gold Dragon, worth a decent amount of experience and gald if you want to farm it, then exit north of the pond. Go north to the first fork, then NW and NE to find an EX Gem Lv.4. Now go SW to find a Mana Protector, then back NE/SE to the first fork and take it NE. Go SE at the next fork, then NE for an EX Gem Lv.3. Continue SE and unseal the MC to save. Keep going SE for an EX Gem Lv.4, then return to the MC and head south. At the next fork turn east and around behind the waterfall for a Shield Ring and Warlock Garb. Go back to the last juction and head south and around to the next screen in the east.

@ Chest 235: Acalanatha, Chest 236: Angel’s Tear, Chest 237: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 238: Mana Protector, Chest 239: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 240: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 241: Shield Ring, Chest 242: Warlock Garb @

Go east, then north, then the path going east and keep going for a scene and a boss fight that Lloyd must do alone.

BOSS: Redacted
HP: 12000, Weakness: None, Resists: Light, Lightning
He uses the same tactics as usual, but with only Lloyd the fight is a different can of worms. Thankfully, the boss has many fewer HP than in previous fights to compensate. Block a lot. Dodge the spells. Maybe think of equipping the Holy Symbol and Spirit Symbol for both HP and TP regeneration. You should prevail without too terribly much difficulty.

Afterwards there is a scene followed immediately by a full party boss battle.

BOSS: Origin
HP: 40000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
His spells are powerful, so try to rush in and keep him busy with two or even three melee fighters while Raine heals. Shouldn’t take too long to finish him off.

You will temporarily lose the party member with the highest affection (if it is Kratos, you lose Colette instead) and are warped to Heimdall. Move toward the trapped elf to help him, then into the Elder’s house behind that and speak to the Elder inside. Now exit to the east part of the village and you will automatically help the third trapped elf on your way out. Head home to Dirk’s House next.

*Dirk’s House*
Go inside to speak with Dirk. You’ll receive the Material Blade (disappointingly weak, only the sixth strongest weapon in the game for Lloyd), and the ETERNAL RING. Now go back to the remains of the Tower of Salvation. NOTE: If you chose Kratos at the Flanoir Doctor event, he will now join your group again for the rest of the game. Huzzah!

! Kratos: %Redacted% (Int+3, Eva+3, Acc+3)

Kratos: Judgement (No change) !

*Derris-Kharlan*
Ascend the tower to receive Lloyd’s Eternal Swordsman title and be warped to a new area.

! Lloyd: Eternal Swordsman (HP+7, Str+7, Def+6, Acc+6) !

& Dark Archer, Dark Spear, Dark Sword, Death, Doomguard, Phantasm, Phantom Knight, Samael &

Start by going NE until you can turn north and open the chest for an EX Gem Lv.3. Go east here to find yourself on a big loop on which you will find an EX Gem Lv.2. You’ll find yourself back at the beginning after a bit; go NE again all the way to the next screen. Grab the chest in the NE corner of the first platform to obtain a Golden Helm, then go NW and follow this path a long way. When it finally branches, go NW again. At this platform head up the NE stairs to nab a Magical Ribbon, then return SE to the previous platform and keep going SE from there. At the next fork head SW for an EX Gem Lv.4, then head back NE, past the previous junction, and to the next one where you should ignore the jade emblem and head SE instead. Here you will find an EX Gem Lv.4, then head SW for an EX Gem Lv. 3, then turn around and go step on that jade emblem we ignored earlier. After the scene go through the warp.

@ Chest 243: EX Gem Lv.3, Chest 244: Golden Helm, Chest 245: Magical Ribbon, Chest 246: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 247: EX Gem Lv.4, Chest 248: EX Gem Lv.3 @

If at least one of your companions has an affection score of 2000 or higher, you will find here the companion that was lost after defeating Origin. Take the warp to find yourself back in Welgaia.

*Welgaia*
Go west and take the conveyor south to the next screen. Here you will watch a scene and receive a SPIDER FIGURINE. Check the blue swirl to fight a mini-boss (though if you care about filling out all the extra data in the monster book, wait until you get Raine back in the party). I’m not going to list even the minimal strategies I usually do for these mooks; just use standard boss tactics and each of the minibosses in this area will go down hard. This first one is The Fugitive.

Now go south through the gap in the boxes and use the warp to return to the prison in which you were held a while back. Approach the left cell for another scene and a CHIPPED DAGGER. Check the pool of blood to face The Judged.

Warp back and take the conveyor back north to the first screen. At the central platform go NE and make your way to another screen yet. If you’re hurting, take the upper steps and use either the second or third lift to reach a refresher. If you are low on items, take the fourth lift to a vending machine. When ready, take the lower steps instead and take the second lift down, then inspect the mirror. Another scene and a MIRROR SHARD. Check the broken mirror to fight The Neglected.

Use the refresher again if you need to, then return to the previous screen and head NW. You will receive the DERRIS EMBLEM. Keep going NW and take the warp, then the next one to reach Vinheim, the final stage

*Vinhem*
You could theoretically just head north now, beat the dragon, go through the doors and fight the final boss to beat the game. But this is a completion walkthrough, and we still have stuff to do! Regardless, I do usually take on the Dark Dragon now and claim its Dragon Mail and VINHEIM KEY, then enter the doors and watch the scene so I don’t forget to do it later. If you do the same, don’t warp afterward, just go back south through the door and do the stuff I tell you to. Or I’ll cry.

Go through the east door and along the southern wall of this room. Fight the stationary angel to make a chest appear elsewhere; we'll collect that later. Now go through the door here and open the chest for Energy Tablets, then return. Ascend the stairs and enter the upper right door. Check behind the couch for a Prism Guard. Exit and cross the room to enter the western doorway. Now go through the door north of where you come out to find yourself in the eastern stairwell. Follow this all the way to the bottom to find an EX Gem Lv.4.

@ Chest 249: Energy Tablets, Chest 250: Prism Guard, Chest 251: EX Gem Lv.4 @

Now go back up the stairs and enter the third doorway you see to find a Spirit Bottle and a Mortality Cloak hidden behind the couch. Go back out to the stairs and take them up to the top, then head west a bit and check behind the corner of the building for a hidden Ninja Sword. Cross to the western side and check the same spot here for an Elemental Guard. Enter the doorway to find the western stairwell.

@ Chest 252: Spirit Bottle, Chest 253: Mortality Cloak, Chest 254: Ninja Sword, Chest 255: Elemental Guard @

Descend the stairs and enter the first room you come upon. Kill the angel here to make a chest appear, then loot it for the PAST STONE. The next door down holds an Elixer. Skip the third door and enter the fourth. Enter the door just south of you, then make your way to the western door on this level. Inside you will find a Shield Ring. Back outside, ascend to the highest level and take the western door here to find a Demon’s Seal. Now cross to the east side and take that door. Follow the balcony east to yet another doorway and open the chest for the FUTURE STONE. Return through the previous two doors, then down the stairs and back over through the eastern door on the middle level. Go through the north door to find yourself back in the western stairwell, then go all the way to the bottom and find the Blue Shield.

@ Chest 256: Elixer, Chest 257: Shield Ring, Chest 258: Demon’s Seal, Chest 259: Blue Shield @

Go back up and through the first door to find yourself back in the foyer. The Past Stone will activate, create some blocks, and read you a super easy riddle. Run to the east side of the room to have the Future Stone do the same thing. Each side also activates a big warp and what you must do is bring the block of the color corresponding to the element in the riddle onto the warp, then push it into the next gap or slot. The order on the left is black, blue, red, violet. The order on the right is yellow, green, aqua, white. When all the blocks are in their correct spots, you will be able to retrieve the SACRED STONE, which lets you warp directly back and forth from Vinheim to the ruins of the Tower of Salvation via the warp in the foyer. We’ve cleaned this place out, and assuming you already beat the Dark Dragon and saw the final scene before the point of no return, go ahead and warp back now.

*Ozette*
So many places to go! Since it’s so close, let’s hit Ozette first. Speak to the guy by Presea’s dad’s grave, then leave. If Presea is at least level 80, reenter and speak to him again to receive the Gaia Cleaver. If you’re not yet high enough level, come back when you are to retrieve this awesome ax. Mizuho next!

*Mizuho*
Speak to the Chief to recieve a Kannazuki. If you chose Kratos at the Flanoir Doctor, speak to Tiga to receive alternate costumes for both Kratos and Lloyd.

! Lloyd: Unrivalled Blade (No change)

Kratos: Steel Demon (No change) !

*Altamira*
Now is as good a time as any to try gambling away to achieve the ridiculous 1000000 chips necessary to unlock the achievement. Seriuosly, whoever decided to set it that high (WAY over what is needed to purchase anything you might want) is a total chump. The prizes you’ll actually want are the Forget-Me-Not and the ????, the latter unlocking an alternate costume title for Raine.

! Chosen Beauty (No change) !

*Flanoir*
If you chose Genis or Presea at the Flanoir Doctor event, go stay the night at the inn in Flanoir. If you chose Presea, she’ll gain a costume title; if you chose Genis, both he and Presea will gain a costume title.

! Genis: I’m Not Cold! (No change)

Presea: Gentle Warmth (No change) !

*Heimdall*
Speak with the two kids near the entrance for a scene about Noishe. Bet you almost forgot about our weird, alien-dog mount, didn’t you? Darn kids and your rheairds, forgetting the backs that carried you through half the game...

When you’re done, head over the river and to the east part of the village. Approach the robed elf and Genis will learn his ultimate spell, Meteor Storm, as well as a title.

! Genis: Mana Master (TP+3, Int+5, Eva+5, Acc+2) !

Now go to the western screen and speak to the elf wandering around near the entrance to Torent Forest. He’ll tell you about an evil book. We’ll get to that later.

*Exire*
Land on the floating city once more and make your way to the Elder’s house. Get up onto the porch, but don’t enter the house; instead walk around the house and off the porch on the western side, then north along the skybridge to a lonely platform. Equip the Aquamarine, Garnet, Opal, and Ruby to any of your characters and examine the stone here to summon an optional boss.

BOSS: Maxwell
This old guy’s magic HURTS, especially Meteor Storm. My best advice is take three melee fighters and Raine and just try to keep him staggered as much as possible to avoid taking too many meteors on the chin. Good luck! Perhaps the best prize for this fight is the Turquoise, an accessory that counts as both a Holy Symbol and a Spirit Symbol at the same time, but you also get a Spirit Robe, the Maxwell summon, which casts Meteor Storm, and Sheena’s Master Summoner title. Not a bad haul, I’d say.

! Sheena: Master Summoner (TP+3, Int+5, Acc+4) !

*Meltokio*
Okay, assuming you flirted with every single female in the game then you can now go speak with Sebastian to earn Zelos’ most amusing title.

! Zelos: Gigolo (HP+2, TP+1, Str+2, Def+2, Int+2, Eva+2, Acc+2) !

Now go toward the castle and approac the two chefs facing off against each other on the western side of the stairs. You’ll learn the recipe for Beef Stew and Regal will gain his God of the Kitchen title (Regal+180).

! Regal: God of the Kitchen (No change) !
Who wants more cool stuff for Regal? You do? Alright, enter the castle now! Go west to the next screen, then through the second door on the north down into the dungeon. Approach the cells on the left for a scene.

# “You bet.: Regal+180, or “Ah, well—“: no change #

Now if you pick the first answer and Regal is at least level 80, take a quick side trip to the Hot Spring on the island just to the north and speak to the old guy hanging out by the spring itself to receive the Dynast greaves (You have to speak to him twice. Also, you gain Regal+180). If you pick the second answer you get nothing, so there.

I’d say it’s time to prove ourselves masters of the Coliseum, wouldn’t you? Well, you’d better, because that’s what I’m going to describe next. Or you could just be a wiseacre and skip it I guess. I mean, I’m not going to come to your house and make you do it. Or am I?

I started with Lloyd, of course. Equipped him with the best stuff I had, plus the Turquoise and a Blue Talisman. Also set your cooking recipe to Miso Stew, assuming you have the ingredients. You’ll have to beat the laughable Beginner’s Class. There will be a scene, and now the team battles are available, but let’s stick with solo for now. The Intermediate level is also a joke, so get that out of the way. Another scene, then time for Advanced. This is where actual tactics come into play.

Round 1: Same Dragon Rider and Velocidragon you were fighting back in Sylverant forever ago. Whack ‘em once to knock the rider off, take out the rider then the annoying dragon. Easy peasy... for a melee fighter. Maybe the toughest fight of the lot for the casters, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

Round 2: Note that you can change weapons at the very beginning of a Coliseum match, just not once it gets started. So you could, say, equip yourself with an Aqua Cape at the start of this round to halve the damage you might take from this opponent, not that you should be getting hit that often since it’s really slow. It does have a pretty quick counter sometimes, though. Still, standard block and counter strategy works wonders here.

Round 3: If you know how to fight it, a joke. If not, a nightmare. Stay underneath this thing at all times! It’s spell is so weak you can just take it, or guard tech if you really need to. It’s breath weapon can easily do loads of damage if it gets you full stream, though, so avoid it at all costs! Don’t even jump attack if you think you’ll get caught by the breath; just attack from the ground with a weapon that has decent reach (read: not a dagger) and you’ll hit it every few swings or so just fine.

Round 4: This thing is tough enough that you may want to equip an ice protection accessory. It’s slow, but if you get far enough away it starts shooting ice bullets at you that do a surprising amount of damage. Thankfully they have a max range, so if you are all the way across the screen you can heal in peace. Up close it has a regular swing that you can block and counter, and a charge up swing that hurts you and knocks you back even through a block. Unfortunately even a hop back doesn’t get you quite out of range, and usually gets you smacked for full damage, so if you’re already close and see it start to charge it may be best just to keep blocking and recover from the knockback as quick as you can.

Round 5: This thing is a terror. It is tough to get close enough to it to attack since it’s swings cause a good deal of knockback. It attacks swiftly. It has long range. It has a triple fireball attack, that, as far as I can tell, does not count as fire damage so accessories to block it don’t help. When it flies up in the air you should immediately run forward and under it if you can so you can attack its back as soon as the thing lands. If you can’t get under it, get back so that you don’t get caught by its powerful breath weapon. Oh, and did I mention its difficult to make this thing stagger? Yeah, if you’re not leveled enough, or just using a character you’re not very good with this fight is a terror.

I’ll probably put character specific strategies in a later version of the guide. For now, here’s a quick outline: Lloyd as above; Colette Life Thief+Spirit Thief EX Skills and spam Torrential Para Ball (Stardust Cross against Drake) if went Pow Hammer line, spam whatever seems to work best; Genis Concentrate skill, spam Meteor Storm; Raine Concentrate skill, spam Photon and occassional First Aid, use Sacred Shine if overlimit triggers; Sheena Hard Hit skill, try to get in good, fast combos, hope enemies stagger, use Origin if overlimit triggers; Zelos or Kratos as Lloyd; Presea Glory skill, easiest of all, as Lloyd; Regal Glory or Counter/C. Combo/Combo Force skills, learn his combos, tactics as Lloyd. Every character used Turquoise/Blue Talisman setup except Zelos/Kratos who used Turquoise/Ruby for Grave Blade.

Each character that bests Advanced Solo at this point in the game wins what is/very nearly is their best weapon as well as what is/very nearly is their best title.

! Lloyd: Sword of Swords (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Valkyrie Sabre

Colette: Supergirl (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Angel’s Halo

Genis: Ultimate Kid (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Final Player

Raine: Gladiator Queen (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Crystal Rod

Sheena: Rose of Battle (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Divine Judgement

Zelos: Grand Champion (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Excalibur

Presea: Deadly Flower (HP+3, TP+2, Str+3, Def+3, Eva+3, Acc+3) plus the Bahamut’s Tear

Regal: King of the Coliseum (HP+4, TP+2, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Kaiser Greaves

Kratos: Conquerer (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) plus the Excalibur !

After the second character beats Advanced Solo mode, additional boss fight triggered, will continue after every time a character beats Advanced Solo until she is defeated.

BOSS: Seles
HP: 12000, Weakness: None, Resists: Earth, Fire, Water, Wind
She’s tough. As you can tell from her Resists, if you want to face her with her brother, it is best to unequip the Ruby at the beginning of the fight. She starts by casting lots of ice magic at you. If you do enough damage to her she adds in light magic that is more difficult to dodge. If you rush in and melee her she proves she is no slouch there either. What I do to beat her is start by running her out of TP. If she casts Absolute, just run out of the area of effect. If she casts Ice Shards, I use my guard tech to block every other casting and just tank the other. This causes my HP and TP regen from the Turquoise to keep me in nearly perfect shape. Once she runs low on TP after a couple dozen castings she will rush up and melee with you. Block and counter! If she jumps, spinning, into the air, rush forward a few steps then turn around and hit her in the back when she lands. Once her hat comes off she’ll occasionally power up for a big, unblockable strike. It’s very telegraphed with stars sparkling around her, giving you plenty of time to backstep out of the way and rush back in to counter. Like I said, she’s tough, but definitely beatable. Your prizes for winning are an Achievement, Zelos’ best sword (barring a powered up Soul Eater), and the best circlet in the game, the Elemental Circlet (plus Zelos+180). Note: it is actually possible to beat her twice if you a) beat her before the Tower of Salvation visit with all the martyr scenes and b) chose Kratos at the Flanoir doctor scene; she’ll reappear for a rematch now. Once defeated the second time, she’s done.

Next there are the team battles. The teams are three people each for some weird reason, so pick your favorites. Due to the nature of the fights I tend to avoid pure casters, aka Genis and Raine. After experimenting I found my best group was Lloyd, Presea, and either Regal or Zelos/Kratos. Both the Beginner and Advanced modes are actually really easy, and it is only the exhibition battle that is challenging. If you beat Advanced Party Mode with Lloyd in the party, he will earn a title.

! Lloyd: Tactical Leader (TP+3, Int+5, Eva+5, Acc+5) !

BOSS: Garr, Farah Oersted, and Meredy
HP: 20000, 20000, and 16000; Weakness: None, None, and None; Resists: Darkness, Earth, Ice, and Lightning, Fire, and None
Oi vey. These guys are really strong. Which I would expect from protagonists from previous Tales games. BUT! You actually get to use items in this match. And you will need them. If you took an all melee party into the match like I did, there is no need to tank to protect casters, so just focus fire on Meredy first, then either of the other two, then the last one. Forget healing magic, just use items. Lemon Gels, Miracle Gels, Energy Tablets, and Life Bottles will be downed copiously. They’ll use an Hourglass to stop time at one point; if you received any from your flirting adventures, you can return the favor. An All-Divide might also help. The first one of them to fall will actually get raised just like they were people! Defeat that one again ASAP because if you then drop another one, they too will be raised. As far as I can tell they will keep raising until either one of them has been dropped twice, even if you drop all three of them once first. Obviously just getting one out of the way is preferable, and I always go for the lowest defense/HP first. Your reward is suitably epic: Mumbane, the best body armor in the game for Lloyd; a Star Cloak, the best body armor in the game for Genis; and another Kona Symbol, which prevents all status effects and will be essential for power leveling later.

We’re done with the Coliseum! Yay!

*Houses of Guidance*
Let’s visit the House of Guidance near Meltokio first. Speak to the chef standing inside to learn how to cook Pork Cutlets (an awesome recipe for new game+ because the ingredients are cheap and easily obtained well before you can buy Miso). Next up, the HoG near Heimdall and repeat the above to learn Potato Salad. Only one more recipe to go, we’ll grab that in Sylverant in a bit. Okay, feeling tough after all your Coliseum wins? Hope so, because next stop is the Temple of Darkness and the toughest optional fight in the game.

*Temple of Darkness*
Travel ALL the way down to the Seal. Speak with Abyssion. Watch him go Saiyan, then fight him. Really, with a name like that they might as well have called him Baron Baddie DeGuy. Anyhoo:

BOSS: Abyssion
HP: 120000, Weakness: None, Resists: None
Okay, first of all do NOT use an All-Divide. He is immune to the effect, but you are not, so he’ll still do full damage while you’re doing half. This is bad. He moves fast. He teleports. He is incredibly strong and tough. He will spam intermediate and advanced techs and spells. This is all bad. On Hard and Manic difficulties he will use Meteor Storm and any of your character’s Mystic Artes. This is beyond bad. On my Manic run he killed all three of my front-liners (who all were at 9999HP) with Divine Judgement as his FIRST MOVE. That ought to give you a good idea of what you’re facing here. Take Raine. Take your three strongest front-liners. Pop Energy Tablets, Lemon and Miracle Gels, and Life Bottles like they’re Tic-Tacs. Use Hourglasses if you have them. Elixers if you need them. Spirit Bottles. Seriously, pull out all the stops because you won’t find a greater challenge. The end boss is a joke compared to this guy. But the reward! Oh yes, the reward is sweet... In addition the only big typos I’ve seen in this game, there is an achievement, Jet boots, Hyper Gauntlet, and every one of the Devil’s Arms now does bonus damage equal to the number of kills that character has made (up to 5000). Bruh. Oh, and don’t forget one of Presea’s best titles, Empty Soul.

! Presea: Empty Soul (HP+4, TP+3, Str+4, Def+4, Eva+4, Acc+4) !

*Tethe’alla Bridge*
Thought Abyssion was tough, did you? Bah, combat is easy. Even tough combat is easy. If you’re not strong enough, you can just go level up, learn some new abilites, buy some more items. Not so with our next challenge. There is nothing that will prepare you, nothing to improve your chances. You will be relying on blind skill and, more pointedly, luck, to get you through. You will weep and curse the programmers who designed this infernal challenge. That said, at least it’s not dodging f***ing lightning 200 times in a row or jumping rope 1000. That’s right, prepare yourself for this game’s worst mini-game: Red Light/Green Light. Go to the second screen (Meltokio side) and speak with the Katz here to start your nightmare.

^ Red Light/Green Light
Starts: As soon as you can access the bridge. Requires: Genis in party.

Here’s the basics: when the Katz’ back is turned, you spam the cancel button to slowly walk forward. You can turn as you walk by holding other buttons, but this does slow you down. The Katz will yell out Red Light in various manners and speeds, then turn around at times. If you are caught moving, you will be sent all the way to the beginning. If you bump an opponent from behind, or they you, the one who got bumped will be pushed back a few steps. If this happens just before the Katz turns around and the bumpee is still reeling, they will count as moving and be sent back to the beginning. In practical terms, this is the only way the AI opponents ever get caught.

The first level is a ridiculous joke. Just spam the button and stop when the Katz starts to turn around. It’s just here to waste your time when you inevitably have to retry dozens of times becaue of level 3. You walk faster than your opponents and they don’t really go out of their way to bump you, so if you can just get a straight shot you’re home free.

The second level is pretty easy as well. You move at the same rate as the AI, but they tend to meander back and forth for no reason, slowing them down, so you are functionally faster. They might try to bump you in the beginning, but if you can get out ahead right away and just keep going straight you’re pretty much guaranteed to win (barring a screw up like walking when the light is Red).

The third level was forged in the pits of hell. The AI are all faster than you, even if you’re going straight and they’re meandering back and forth. They actively try to bump you. You really have to decide at the beginning: wait a sec at the start so they get a step or two ahead and you can try to bump them, or start out immediately and risk getting bumped yourself. What happens 99% of the time is that, even if you manage to bump the 2-3 opponents nearest you, one little shi...nbiter on the other end will just pull out ahead leaving you with no hope of catching them and you might as well quit and retry instead of wasting another twenty precious seconds of your life. I truly wish you luck, and the designers of this mini-game over-salted meals for the rest of their lives. Your reward, should you manage to win eventually, is a weapon and a title for Genis. v

! Genis: Strategist (HP+2, Str+3) !

How about a vacation to Sylverant now? Yeah, let’s hit up the old man at Hakonesia Peak one more time.

*Hakonesia Peak*
Assuming you traded him the Spiritua Statue way back in the mists of time, he’ll offer Zelos and Kratos’ best body armor now for 100000 gald. If you have done everything I mentioned up til now, you should have everything you need for another Zelos title:

! Zelos: Gilgamesh (HP+8, TP+1, Str+8, Def+8) Equip Zelos with Excalibur, Golden Armor, Golden Helm, either the Blue Shield or the Hyper Gauntlet, and the Jet Boots (second accessory doens’t matter), then win a fight with him thus equpped. !

*Asgard*
Speak to the guy in the white hat standing in front of the eastern inn to learn the final recipe, Paella.

*Katz Village*
Speak to the sleeping Katz at the inn. If you have opened every chest in the game, Sheena receives her Treasure Hunter title.

! Sheena: Treasure Hunter (Str+5, Def+5, Int+10) !

The store here is also the only place in the game to buy Purple Satay. If you’re ready to max out those stars on your recipes, stock up on every ingredient you can find (Between Katz Village, Iselia, and Asgard they should have everything you need) and go out fighting. There’s really no way to reduce the grindiness here, just pick a character, pick a recipe, and keep making it until they max it out or you run out of ingredients. Rush back to the stores when you need to replenish supplies, rinse, and repeat. Eventually you’ll get everyone maxed out. (Well, almost; remember, you can’t have all nine characters in a single playthrough, so someone will be left out until a new game+). We’ll grab the award for doing so in a minute, but first we have another thing to take care of in Sylverant.

*Iselia Forest*
Land at Dirk’s House and enter the forest. Right in front of you is the Sword Dancer’s third incarnation. Let’s poke it with a stick.

BOSS: Sword Dancer, part 3
HP: 99999, Weakness: Light, Resists: None
Compared to Abyssion, this thing is a chump. Exploit its weakness. Use normal tactics. Laugh at its inadequacies. Earn the Kusanagi Blade and an Achievement as your reward.

*Dirk’s House*
Since we’re here, lets stop in and say hi to good old dad(s). I swear this is the setup for a sitcom. What’s this, he’s doing customization now? Actually, so is the other dwarf, Altessa. I won’t go into the full list here, just the few items I’m going to mention:

$ Dirk’s Shop (Partial) $
Amulet – Stun Charm + Drain Charm + Poison Charm + Stone Charm + Paralysis Charm
Rabbit’s Foot – Beast Hide + Rune Bottle
Dark Seal – Rabbit’s Foot + 10xDark Bottle + 10xBlack Quartz + Rune Bottle
Krona Symbol – Dark Seal + 8xAmulet + Rune Bottle
Demon’s Seal – Dark Seal + 10xBlack Silver + 10xDark Bottle + 10xBlack Quartz

Why would you want to craft these items? Why for faster leveling, of course! If you want to hit that level 100 mark without a new game+ experience boost, Demon’s Seals and Krona Symbols are the way to go! You already have one of the former and two of the latter, assuming you’ve been following this guide, so here are all the materials you’ll need to accumulate to level four characters at once (obviously you can’t carry this much at once, so you’ll have to make multiple trips):

5 Beast Hide – Dropped by or stolen from lots of easy monsters, or buy from Flanoir Grade Shop for cheap.
80 Black Quartz – Dropped by or stolen from lots of easy monsters. I go to Vinheim and farmed dark angels.
30 Black Silver – Same as Beast Hide, though twice as expensive to buy with Grade.
80 Dark Bottle – Purchase in many item stores; might as well grab them in Altamira with all the Charms.
16 Drain Charm – Purchase in Altamira
16 Paralysis Charm – Purchase in Altamira
16 Poison Charm – Purchase in Altamira
12 Rune Bottle – Dropped by or stolen from lots of easy monsters. The Chimaera at Fooji Mountains work well.
16 Stone Charm – Purchase in Altamira
16 Stun Charm – Purchase in Altamira

Outfit everyone with a Demon’s Seal and a Krona Symbol and they’ll earn double experience with no downside. I ground on the same angels I used to farm the Black Quartz: the door in the SE corner of Vinheim, just run in, stomp the angels, exit, reenter, repeat, profit. Level 100 may seem a ways away, but it is sweet when you get there.

! Lloyd: Holy Sword (Def+10, Eva+10) Reach level 100.

Colette: Angelic Maiden (HP+10, Def+10) Reach level 100.

Raine: Wise Woman (HP+10, Int+10) Reach level 100.

Sheena: Ultimate Summoner (HP+10, Def+10) Reach level 100.

Zelos: Elegant Swordsman (HP+10, Def+10) Reach level 100.

Presea: Bursting Girl (HP+10, Str+10) Reach level 100.

Regal: Perfect Battler (HP+10, Str+10) Reach level 100.

Kratos: War God (HP+10, Int+10, Acc+5) !

*Altamira*
Next time you’re in Altamira, head on up to the third floor of the hotel and make sure the onscreen character is someone who has mastered every single recipe. At the far west end of the floor you will find the Wonder Chef waiting to reward said character with a tasty title. Leave and reenter with each character to catch ‘em all.

! Lloyd: Gourmet King (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Colette: Charismatic Chef (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Genis: Little Chef (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Raine: Passable Chef? (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Sheena: Master Cook (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Zelos: Gourmet Prince (TP+5, Eva+4, Acc+5)

Presea: Master Chef (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Regal: True Chef (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5)

Kratos: Gourmet Master (Def+5, Int+4, Eva+5) !

We really only have one last thing to do before ending the game: the optional dungeon Niflheim.

*Sybak*
Enter the library and look for a weird-looking book along the north wall. Inspect it and allow it to draw you in to enter the special twenty level dungeon.

*Niflheim aka Forbidden Anemnesis*
I’ll level with you, it’s time-consuming and you have to do it all in one go as there are no MCs and it will reset if you leave and come back. The basic mechanic is a thing called soulfire. You start with 100. You lose soulfire by walking and it costs 10 per shot to use the Sorcerer’s Ring here. You gain soulfire by lighting torches you’ll find all over, 40 per. Fighting can also gain or lose soulfire depending on how well you do. If your soulfire hits 0, it is game over, so avoid that.

Examining a torch after it is lit will give you a bonus. Red flames will give you a random item (I got a White Quartz once, which is otherwise unique), blue flames heal your HP or TP or give you bonus soulfire, and green flames will either give you a stat bonus that lasts the rest of the level or offer to transport you out of the dungeon if it is just too much for you.

Each of the non-divisible-by-five levels is a three-by-three setup of platforms with randomized bridges between. Your goal is to reach the warp to the next level, hopefully whilst lighting as many torches along the way as possible. There are three basic types of level: if the background is green, you just need to run around until you find the warp. If it is blue, the same basic principle applies, but you have to shoot doodads with your Sorcerer’s fire in order to make the bridges appear. If it is red, you must defeat all enemies on the level to make the warp appear (on green and blue levels, the enemies respawn infinitely). Also, each of these levels starts with a random effect that lasts the entire level. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, and sometimes you can choose a level of bad in exchange for extra soulfire (note that random solo can be really dangerous).

The real attaction is, of course, the four bosses. On level five, you fight the Hell Knight.

BOSS: Hell Knight
HP: 88000, Weakness: Light, Resists: Darkness, Fire, Lightning
Standard. Boring. Waste him.

On level ten, you face the Shadow Cardinals:

BOSS: Shadow Magnius, Shadow Forcystus, and Shadow Pronyma
HP: 78000, 65000, and 58000; Weakness: None, None, and Light; Resists: Fire, Wind, and Darkness
No love for Rodyle or Kvar, I guess. Use the same tactics you did against the group Coliseum exhibition fight and you should be fine. Shadow Pronyma, in particular, should be easy since she has an exploitable weakness and the lowest HP. Magnius has this annoying habit of charging into your casters though...

On level fifteen you face the Living Armor:

BOSS: Living Armor
HP: 120000, Weakness: None, Resists: Darkness, Fire, Lightning
Ho hum. It’s big and has powerful spells, but nothing you haven’t seen before.

On level twenty you face the memories of Heroes:

BOSS: M, K, and Y
HP: 64000, 95000, and 88000; Weakness: None, None, and None; Resists: Light, Light and Lightning, and Lightning
Same strategy you used against the exhibition fight again, except even moreso since you can only use three characters for this fight. As usual, go for the lowest HP first. At least you don’t need to worry about them reviving each other! Enjoy your juicy Achievement when you win.

Burn the book or don’t doesn’t really matter. If you want to farm the place for XP and drops from the respawning bosses, be my guest. It doesn’t even affect affection, not that there is any more reason to care about that unless you plan to roll it over in new game+.

*Vinheim*
Okay, that’s it. Unless I forgot something. In which case, please remind me. I’ve been through this game several times in a row and earned absolutely everything, so my brain is a little mushy right now. Go beat the living crap out of Yggdrasil. If you were able to beat Abyssion, you can probably auto-battle the last boss and still win. Make sure you steal from his second form, as the extra EX Gem MAX will be useful in new game+ (he drops one too). I like to give one to Colette so she can switch between item stealing and item farming mode. The other one is up for grabs; maybe Raine so she can be in Concentrate most of the time, but switch to Personal in order to heal everyone up for a single TP per cast at MCs? Yeah, in case you didn’t notice, I have so much contempt for the final boss I’m not even bothering to write up his stats. Just waste him and watch your credits already.