FINAL FANTASY 2 Low-Level Walkthrough
Version 1.2
January 14, 2020
-Copyright 2020 by David Thompson
-Google Drive Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EO4W11RpUPHNp2abvGuGmPedue_vKmT8UrUTBanSMyg/
-Youtube Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNE_C0R-k9hrfPxW5N6WVyRSU1jNX6Tl5

*****************
TABLE OF CONTENTS
*****************

0. Version Info
1. Introduction
    1.1 What is a Low-Level Challenge?
    1.2 How do you beat Zeromus?
    1.3 EXP Mechanics
    1.4 Inventory Management
    1.5 General Advice
2. Walkthrough
    2.1 The Overworld
        2.1.1 Baron and Mist
        2.1.2 Kaipo and the Watery Pass
        2.1.3 Damcyan and Antlion’s Nest
        2.1.4 Mt. Hobs and Fabul
        2.1.5 Mysidia and Mount Ordeals
        2.1.6 Back to Baron
        2.1.7 Toroia and the Magnetic Cave
        2.1.8 The Tower of Zot
    2.2 The Underground
        2.2.1 The Dwarf Castle
        2.2.2 The Tower of Babil, Part I
        2.2.3 An Above Ground Interlude, and the Drain Sword
        2.2.4 The Tower of Babil, Part II       
        2.2.5 Exploring the Underground 
        2.2.6 The Sealed Cave, a Frying Pan and a Whale 
    2.3 The Moon
        2.3.1 A First Trip to Space: Meeting FuSoYa
        2.3.2 Back to Earth: The Giant of Babil
        2.3.3 The Attack on Zeromus
3. Boss Fights
    3.1 Mist Dragon
    3.2 Soldiers and Officer
    3.3 Octomamm
    3.4 Antlion
    3.5 Water Hag
    3.6 Mom Bomb
    3.7 Fabul Battles
    3.8 Milon
    3.9 Milon Z
    3.10 Yang and Guards
    3.11 Baigan
    3.12 Kainazzo
    3.13 Dark Elf
    3.14 The Magus Sisters
    3.15 Valvalis
    3.16 Cal and Brena
    3.17 Golbez
    3.18 Dr Lugae
    3.19 Dark Imps
    3.20 Stalemen
    3.21 Rubicant
    3.22 The Four Fiends
    3.23 CPU
    3.24 Zeromus
        3.24.1 Phase I
        3.24.2 Phase II
        3.24.3 Phase III
        3.24.4 Phase IV
4. Other Information
    4.1 The Exchange Screen Glitch
    4.2 Stealing Shields for Rydia and Rosa
5. Acknowlegements

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

***************
0. Version Info
***************
Version 1.2
Date: January 14, 2020
Description: More typo fixes

Version: 1.1
Date: January 8, 2020
Description: Fixed some small typos and the title of the guide

Version 1.0
Date: January 7, 2020
Description: Initial upload

***************
1. Introduction
***************

This is a walkthrough for a Low-Level Challenge (LLC) for Final Fantasy 2 (the
US release of Final Fantasy IV). So far as I know, there is no existing guide
for completing this game at the lowest possible levels. Garland the Great has
posted a nice playlist of LLC boss fights to YouTube, but stopped prior to the
Four Fiends fight in the Giant of Babil. Curtsed has posted a video of a
low-level party beating Zeromus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-R9FEXiOCw) in
the Japanese version of the game; this guide will show how to extend that
approach to the US version.
 
This is a hard challenge, so I recommend you play through the game at least once
to familiarize yourself with the game's plot and mechanics. The walkthrough will
be relatively sparse, focusing instead on key items and boss strategies.
 
For your sanity, this challenge is more enjoyable on an emulator, as the ending
of several of the boss fights are quite tricky and Zeromus is a long, precise
fight. However, all of the strategies laid out here can be performed on console.

I have also written a corresponding guide for the original Japanese version of
the game, released in the US as the 10th Anniversary Edition in Final Fantasy
Chronicles, which is available on that game's page.

**********************************
1.1 What is a Low-Level Challenge?
**********************************

The goal of the LLC is to beat the game with the lowest average levels among
your final party. In particular, you will reach Zeromus with an average party
level of 19:

-Kain: 37
-Edge: 25
-Rydia: 16
-Rosa: 16
-Cecil: 1

It is not possible to achieve a lower average party level. Achieving these
levels takes a fair amount of planning, as you need to make sure certain
characters are alive at the end of each fight (see Section 1.3 for a discussion
of EXP mechanics). For those that are curious how I determined the optimal fight
plan, see my Google Sheet
(https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OhNpovKcE597zjIkfS-YpsbuQzF84GZQ9pHYOJt
IEjU/edit#gid=0), or email me at ff4lowlevel@gmail.com and I'll be happy to
share my code and Excel with you.

****************************
1.2 How do you beat Zeromus?
****************************

Before diving in, let me say a word about Zeromus, who has been the bane of
previous LLC attempts. At these levels, Zeromus's Big Bang attack is almost
always a one-hit KO for the whole party, so the only way to survive is to have
Kain Jump over Big Bang.
 
The general approach for beating Zeromus borrows heavily from curtsed's videos
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-R9FEXiOCw). His strategy involves using Star
Veils to reflect Zeromus's magic and strategically timing Kain's Jump to avoid
Big Bang. Star Veils are dummied out in the US version, but the general approach
can still be adapted to the US version. In general, the approach is:

-Slow Zeromus down (in the US version we need to hit him with two Slows)
-Jump over his Big Bangs
-Do some fancy footwork to prevent his magic attacks from taking us out
-Equip the Blood Sword for the final phase of the fight

Section 3.24 has the full details.

*****************
1.3 EXP Mechanics
*****************

EXP is divided among the surviving party members. For example, Milon-Z gives
4000 EXP. If one party member survives the fight, that member will receive all
4000 EXP. If all four party members survive, each will receive 1000 EXP. KO'ed
party members receive no EXP, and all fractional EXP is rounded down.
 
Your "shadow party" are the members that have entered your party and
subsequently left (e.g. Rydia between the Leviathan attack and her return in the
Underground Castle). Shadow members receive the same amount of EXP as the
surviving members of the fight.

To continue the Milon-Z example: if one party member survives the fight, Rydia,
Rosa, Kain and Yang (your shadow party at the time) will each receive 4000 EXP;
if all four members survive the fight, Rydia, Rosa, and Kain will only receive
1000 EXP apiece.
 
Since the goal is to prevent our final party from gaining EXP, the mechanics
imply three general principles:

-Avoid all unnecessary EXP (i.e. run from optional fights)
-Keep non-final party members alive at the end of fights (to reduce the EXP your
shadow party receives)
-Keep final party members KO'ed at the end of fights 

These rules aren't ironclad (for example, we keep Kain alive for the Valvalis
and Cal/Brena fights in order to reduce the EXP Rydia receives), but they're
good to keep in mind. The boss descriptions in Section 3 give all the details as
to who needs to survive each fight. I will point out any deviations from these
rules as we go.

************************
1.4 Inventory Management
************************

One irksome aspect of FFIV is the small inventory relative to the number of
items, weapons, and armor available. You'll quickly find your inventory filling
up and you will need to make decisions regarding which items to hang onto and
which ones to sell or throw away.
 
If you need to lighten your inventory, I would recommend you sell/throw away: 

-Items you can buy in stores
-Items that will never be used again (Edward's Harps, Cid's Hammers, Cecil's
Dark Knight gear, etc. Hang on to the Cat Claws, but you can toss Yang's other
claws)
-Bows and Arrows
-Weak healing items (e.g. Cure1s once you have Cure2s) 

Additionally, if you think you might like to hang on to an item but don't need
it currently, you can use the Fat Chocobo, available on the Lunar Whale or any
Chocobo Forest.

******************
1.5 General Advice
******************

-Always run from random encounters. The only avoidable fight in this walkthrough
is the Stalemen (3.20, to get the Drain Sword)
-Pick up chests throughout the world, but avoid "Monster!" chests, as you cannot
escape from these battles
-De-equip party members before they leave you. You can either transfer their
equipment to another character, or sell it for GP
-As you lose GP for running away, I tend to spend my money as soon as I get it.
Cures, Lifes, and (prior to Valvalis) Heals are good options for spending money
early in the game.
-Many weapons can be "cast" from the Item menu, a technique I never figured out
as a kid. In the item menu, press up to access your current left- and right-hand
equipment. Select a weapon twice, and some of them have nice effects.
    -In this run, whenever I say to use Dancing Daggers, I mean to cast them in
this way.

**************
2. Walkthrough
**************

*****************
2.1 The Overworld
*****************

2.1.1 Baron and Mist
--------------------

Collect the treasures in the castle and the town of Baron, and stop into the
Item shop to buy 10 Cure 1s (for Antlion fight). Once on the World Map, remove
all of Kain's Iron gear, and kill him off in your first fight.
 
Make your way to the Mist Dragon, collecting chests in the Misty Cave along the
way. Since there are no shadow party members to worry about, feel free to win
any random encounters with Cecil. When you're ready, approach the Mist Dragon
[3.1].
 
Head to Mist and open the package. After your encounter with Rydia, Kain will
leave. From here on out, run from any random encounter unless otherwise told.
Take Rydia to Kaipo, where you'll be attacked by a group of Baron guards [3.2].

2.1.2 Kaipo and the Watery Pass 
-------------------------------

Visit Rosa in the northwest corner of town. She has taken ill and is in need of
the Sand Ruby to break her fever. Leave Kaipo and head northwest to the Watery
Pass. Pick up Tellah and make your way through, again picking up items as you
go. There is Darkness gear for Cecil along the way, which you can equip as soon
as you get them. Save when you reach the world map, and then head through to
Octomamm [3.3].

2.1.3 Damcyan and Antlion's Nest
-------------------------------

After Octomamm, de-equip Tellah. When you exit the cavern, you'll witness Baron
bombing Damcyan. Enter the castle, but first skirt around the outside of the
castle to the right to find the treasure room. After collecting the goods, climb
the castle to find Edward. Tellah will exit, and Edward will join your party. If
you're low on Cure1s or Lifes, head to Kaipo for a refill (the item shop is in
the Inn); you can also restore your HP on the top floor of Damcyan Castle.
 
When you're ready, go to the Antlion's Den. Collect the treasures here, and then
head down to the Antlion's nest where you'll be attacked [3.4].
 
With the Sand Ruby in hand, leave the Antlion's Den and head back to Kaipo to
heal Rosa. Overnight, Edward will be attacked by a Water Hag [3.5].

2.1.4 Mt. Hobs and Fabul 
------------------------
In the morning, take the hovercraft to Mt. Hobs, where Rydia will overcome her
fear of fire. Collect the treasures, then head towards the top of the mountain
where you'll see Yang battling a group of monsters. You'll come to his aid when
he is attacked by Mom Bomb [3.6].
 
After conversing with Yang, head to Fabul. Raid the treasure room (left tower),
and then talk with the King. Afterwards you'll face a series of battles [3.7]
before being attacked by Kain and losing their Crystal.
 
After receiving the Black Sword from the King, return to the throne room and
pick up Cecil's Black Shield in the secret room on the right. If you have the
cash, buy two Bolt Claws from the Weapon Shop. Unequip your characters, sell
Edward's Harps and Cecil's old weapons/armor, and then head out to the ship.

2.1.5 Mysidia and Mount Ordeals
-------------------------------

After the ship wrecks, walk to Mysidia. Purchase some Cure2s. Talk to the Elder
and he will introduce you to Palom and Porom and send you on your way to Mount
Ordeals. If you get beat up on your way to the mountain, you can heal with Porom
and restore your MP using the White Chocobo in the Chocobo Forest south of the
mountain.
 
Once at Mount Ordeals, head up until you run into Tellah. Give Tellah a helmet,
then continue on to the bridge on where you'll encounter Milon [3.8]. Heal up
using a tent and then cross the bridge, where you'll fight Milon Z [3.9].
 
At this point, unequip Cecil and enter the sanctuary at the top of Mount
Ordeals. Don't attack your mirror image and you will become a Paladin. You can
equip Cecil with all of Kain's Iron Armor that we de-equiped at the beginning of
the game.
 
Leave Mount Ordeals and head back to Mysidia (I like to heal using Tellah's
magic and then use a White Chocobo to recover MP before hitching a ride to
Mysidia on a Chocobo). After visiting the Elder he'll reopen the Devil's Road,
which you can take to Baron.

2.1.6 Back to Baron 
-------------------

Head to the Inn in Baron, where you'll find Yang. After you knock some sense
into him and his guards [3.10], he'll give you the key to Baron's waterways.
Immediately upon entering, collect the 1000GP in the chest hidden to the right.
 
Make your way through the waterway, collecting treasures as you go. When you
reach Baron, you can rest in Cecil's room if needed, before continuing on to
fight Baigan [3.11]. The right half of the castle is now open to you, so go and
raid it for treasure before resting up in Cecil's room and then confronting
Kainazzo in the Throne Room [3.12].
 
After defeating Kainazzo, Cid will join and Palom and Porom will exit. You now
have access to the airship!

2.1.7 Toroia and the Magnetic Cave
----------------------------------

Unless you're morally opposed to it, I'd recommend you stock up on cash by
underflowing Dancing Daggers with the Exchange Screen Glitch. This glitch is not
necessary to beat the game, but makes life easier.

Go to Mist and buy two individual Dancing Daggers (so that you have two stacks
of one). Make sure your inventory is full (if it's not, go buy single Cure 1s
from Baron until it is), and head to the building in the northwest corner of
Mist. Walk through the fireplace to reveal several hidden chests. Open one to
bring up the exchange screen, and then use the Exchange Glitch described in
Section 4.1 to get a stack of 255 Dancing Daggers. Keep 30 or so for the party
(we'll have Edge throw them later), and sell the rest.
 
With this money, head to Mysidia and stock up on Cure 2s, Lifes, and Heals.
You'll want at least 20 Heals for Valvalis, along with 30 Lifes and 50 Cure 2s..
 
Next, head to Silvera and get a set of Silver armor for Cecil and Cid, plus a
Silver Hammer for Cid.
 
Next, go to Baron and pick up two Bolt Claws if you didn't do this at Fabul
earlier. They'll come in handy for Lugae and Rubicant.
 
You can also do some item hunting at this point: collect the Change Rod and the
Tiara hidden in the fire place of the northwestern building of Mist; the
treasures in Eblan Castle (avoid the monster chests, though); a 5000GP chest in
the town of Mythril; and the treasure chests hidden in the woods in Toroia.
 
Once you feel well-stocked, head to Toroia Castle and talk with Edward. After
receiving the TwinHarp, walk north to the Chocobo Forest, and take a Black
Chocobo to the Magnetic Cave (heal with Tellah's magic and then use the White
Chocobo before grabbing the Black Chocobo).
 
The Magnetic Cave is annoying; just run from everything and pick up the treasure
as you go. The Dark Elf will wipe the floor with you before Edward helps out and
gives you a fighting chance [3.13].
 
Return to Toroia Castle and walk north towards the Crystal room. Kain will call
you to your Airship, but before leaving collect all the treasures from the
eastern side of the castle. Once in your Airship, Kain will lead you to the
Tower of Zot.

2.1.8 The Tower of Zot
----------------------

Zot is where I first notice back attacks becoming more frequent. Keep your HP
high in between battles to avoid any unpleasantness from a back attack gone
wrong. Pick up the items throughout, avoiding the monster screen on the second
floor. Restore everyone at the save point before the Magus Sisters [3.14].
 
Save after the fight, then unequip Tellah – his confrontation with Golbez is not
going to end well for him. After Tellah dies, collect Kain, save Rosa from being
crushed, and then get ready for Valvalis [3.15]. This is a good time to check
that your levels and EXP are on track. Before the Valvalis fight you should
have:

-Cecil Level 1, 0 EXP
-Kain Level 17, 16,531 EXP
-Rosa Level 16, 12,920 EXP

After exiting the Tower of Zot, take the Airship south to Agart and drop the key
Kain gave you in the well. Make sure you're well-stocked on Cure 2s and Lifes
before heading underground. You will immediately be attacked by the Red Wings
and crash in front of the Dwarf Castle. 

********************
2.2 The Underground 
*******************

2.2.1 The Dwarf Castle
----------------------

Before entering the castle, set your Battle Speed to its slowest possible level.
Beating Golbez is very difficult without doing this. When you're ready, enter
the Castle and walk north to find the Dwarf King.
 
While talking with the king, Yang will notice something behind the walls, which
will prompt you to investigate. Once in the crystal room, you'll discover the
Cal/Brena dolls [3.16]. After beating them, they'll call for Golbez [3.17].
 
Another status check: Rydia should return at Level 16 with 15,696 EXP.
 
Back in the King's room, immediately cast Warp with Rydia, which will send you
back to the Crystal Room which happens to contain…the Dark Crystal! By picking
this up you can avoid the Sealed Cave and bypass a substantial amount of EXP.
 
Raid the Dwarf Castle for goods, particularly the Black Belt and Strength Ring.
Buy Rydia a Wizard Helm and Armor, and buy three Rune Rings for Rydia, Rosa, and
Yang. I tend to avoid Fire armor for Kain and Cecil, as it is weak against Fire
(that checks out, right?) and we have Rubicant coming up. 

2.2.2 The Tower of Babil, Part I
--------------------------------

Once you're ready, leave the Dwarf Castle through the back and make your way to
the Tower of Babil. Head straight up, making sure to collect the Bandanna on the
second floor and the Cat Claw on the third floor.
 
If you're trying to beat this challenge without underflowing items to generate
GP, now is the time to do some GP grinding with Yang. You have no shadow party
members at this point (Edge enters at Level 25 no matter what), so you can win
solo fights with Yang without impacting your final party levels. In order to
beat Zeromus you will need ~30 Elixirs, which means you need about 3,000,000 GP.
If you're okay using the underflow glitch, then you need not worry about this.
 
You will eventually encounter Dr. Lugae [3.18]. Don't heal much afterward the
Lugae fight, since you will need to kill everyone off in the upcoming Dark Imp
fight anyway. To avoid getting killed by a back attack, I'd recommend reviving
everyone but not refilling their HP.
 
After uncovering the plan to take out the Dwarves, backtrack to the cannon room
which you can now unlock. Unequip Yang before going inside. In the cannon room
you will be attacked by a group of Dark Imps [3.19], after which Yang will
sacrifice himself to stop the cannon.
 
IMPORTANT: Revive your characters immediately after Yang leaves the party. If
you get into a fight with a dead party, it's an automatic game over. Also, even
though Yang is gone, do not get rid of his Cat Claw. Edge can equip them, and
the stat boosts it gives are useful for the fight against the Elements.
 
Make your way out of the Tower of Babil. Cid will make a dramatic reappearance
to save you from falling to your death, and after a chase scene with the Red
Wings, he will sacrifice himself to get you out of the Underground (man, that
was a rough sequence for the good guys).

2.2.3 An Above Ground Interlude, and the Drain Sword
----------------------------------------------------

Return to Baron and speak with Cid's engineers (on the east side of the castle),
and they will attach a hook to the Enterprise for you. Collect the hovercraft
from Mt. Hobs, and drop it near Eblan Cave.
 
Head through the cave to where the people of Eblan have taken refuge. Pick up an
Icebrand for Kain and Cecil, and give Cecil the Ice Shield and Armor as well.
Continue on through the caves (make sure to pick up the two Elixirs along the
way) until you find Edge challenging Rubicant.
 
After Rubicant demolishes Edge, don't go to the Tower of Babil immediately.
Instead, head south to the save room, and take the hidden passage in the top
left, which leads you to a monster chest. Defeat the Stalemen inside [3.20] and
you'll be rewarded with a Drain Sword, which is important for the fight with
Zeromus. Heal afterwards at the Save Point. If you're so inclined, you can steal
a shield for Rydia and Rosa from Mythrils or Armadilos in the cave (see Section
4.2 for details); this can also be done after beating Rubicant. When you're
ready, continue on to the Tower of Babil.

2.2.4 The Tower of Babil, Part II
---------------------------------

Collect the treasures throughout the Tower of Babil. There is also a Middle
Sword for Edge and a substantial amount of GP near Rubicant. Avoid the monster
chest at the bottom of the long stairway.
 
After finding the mutated remains of Edge's parents, Rubicant will appear and
challenge the party [3.21]. After falling through the trap in the Crystal Room,
continue through the Tower until you come across a new Airship. Return to the
Dwarf Castle and speak with the King, who will inform you that the final Dark
Crystal sits in the Sealed Cave. Go downstairs to find Cid in the infirmary;
he'll offer to put a heat shield on the Airship so that you can get to the
Sealed Cave.

2.2.5 Exploring the Underground
-------------------------------

At this point, there are a few odds and ends I'd recommend taking care of before
the Sealed Cave.
 
First, I'd recommend stealing Silver Shields for Rydia and Rosa if you haven't
already (see Section 4.2 for how to do this). Equipping Rydia and Rosa with
shields isn't crucial, but it's useful for the Four Fiends fight since the
shields give Rydia and Rosa an extra defense multiplier, as well as allow them
to dodge attacks.
 
Next, go to the Land of Summons. Watch out for Arachne's—if your health is low
and you get back attacked, Quake can take out the party. Save before entering
and keep your health up between battles. You can skip most of the chests in the
caves, but in the southwest corner of the third floor pick up the Ninja sword
for Edge. Once in the town, go to the Armor shop on buy Sorcerer Robes for Rydia
and Rosa and an Aegis Shield for Cecil. In the Weapon shop, get a Lunar Rod for
Rosa and a Kotetsu/Long for Edge.
 
Third, go to the Sylvan Cave. Collect the treasures here, particularly the Charm
Rod and the second Cat Claw. Talk to Yang and the Sylphs before leaving.
 
Lastly, go to Tomra and pick up a second Tiara for Rydia/Rosa, and a Diamond
Helm for Cecil. Don't bother with the other Diamond gear for Cecil – we're about
to pick up Samurai gear on the Moon and we'll use the Ice Armor for the Elements
fight. I would also recommend using the Exchange Screen Glitch to generate (and
then sell) 255 Ogre Axes in Tomra. You can buy two axes on the Weapon store,
then use the chests containing a Cabin in the top left of town to get to an
exchange screen (just make sure your inventory is full and that you have no
Cabins – see Section 4.1 for details).
 
After all the equipment gathering, check your equipment against the recommended
list for the Four Fiends [3.22] and make sure you've got what you need. If Edge
doesn't have a Rune Ring, buy one for him at the Dwarf Castle.
 
2.2.6 The Sealed Cave, a Frying Pan and a Whale
-----------------------------------------------

Once you're done with all this, head to the Sealed Cave. Since you already have
the crystal, Kain will depart immediately, meaning you don't need to deal with
this portion of the game. Return to the Dwarf Castle and Cid will now help you
get out of the Underground.
 
Before getting the Lunar Whale there are a few things to do in the overworld.
Take the airship to Fabul and speak with Yang's wife, who will give you the
Frying Pan. Then drop the hovercraft near the town of Mythril (east of Baron)
and use it to visit the Adamant Grotto. Give the sprite there the Rat Tail and
it will give you some Adamant Ore in Return.
 
Now return to the Underworld. Head to the Sylvan Cave and whack Yang over the
head the Frying Pan. Then go to the Smithy's (in the southeast portion of the
map) and give him the Adamant Ore.
 
Lastly, return to Fabul. Speak to Yang's wife again and she will give you the
Spoon, which we will use to deal some serious damage against Zeromus.
 
Now head to Mysidia and call upon the Lunar Whale.

************ 
2.3 The Moon
************

2.3.1 A First Trip to Space: Meeting FuSoYa
-------------------------------------------

Upon reaching the Moon, land near the cave in the oval section northeast of
where you first appear. This cave is filled with Namingways, and one of them
sells Elixirs. If you used the Exchange Glitch to sell 255 Ogre Killers, you
should be able to buy ~50 of these. I'd recommend doing so, as they're handy for
the Four Fiends fight, and are critical for Zeromus. (Alternatively, you could
use the Exchange Screen Glitch to underflow Elixirs and get 255 of them. See
Section 4.1)
 
Next, go to Bahamut's Cave and collect the Samurai gear. Give the armor and helm
to Edge, and give Cecil the Glove.
 
Lastly, go through the Lunar Path to the Lunar Palace. In the Palace you'll meet
FuSoYa, who will reveal that Golbez is under the control of a deranged
moon-being named Zemus. Return to the Lunar Whale with him, and when you're
ready, return to Earth.

2.3.2 Back to Earth: The Giant of Babil 
---------------------------------------

Unfortunately, you can't explore the world with FuSoYa. Immediately upon
landing, the Giant of Babil will emerge. After entering the Giant, simply make
your way through. Save at the save point, then continue on to face the Four
Fiends [3.22] and the CPU [3.23]. After these fights, FuSoYa will break Zemus's
hold over Golbez, and Golbez will reveal that he is…Luke's father! I mean,
Cecil's brother! Kain rejoins the party for good. Your party is now at its final
levels and EXP:

-Cecil: Level 1, 0 EXP
-Kain: Level 37, 262,297 EXP
-Rydia: Level 16, 15,696 EXP
-Rosa: Level 16, 12,920 EXP
-Edge: Level 25, 66,877 EXP

2.3.3 The Attack on Zeromus
---------------------------

Once you've regained control of the party on the moon, quickly return to Earth
and pick up the Excalibur from the smithy. Spend your remaining money in Ninja
stars for Edge to throw, then return to the moon and use the Lunar Path to get
to the Lunar Core.
 
There's a lot of treasure you can get here, but we actually have most of what we
need at this point. The only things we'll use for the battle with Zeromus are
Kain's Dragoon Helm and Armor (third floor) and the Protect Ring (fifth floor
passage).
 
Head straight to Zeromus at this point. Collect the stars for Edge in the
crystal area, as they are handy during the final fight. Read over the setup and
strategy for Zeromus [3.24], then take him on and get ready to celebrate
finishing the FF2 Low-Level Challenge!

**************
3. Boss Fights
**************

3.1 Mist Dragon 
---------------
HP: 465
EXP: 700
Party: DK Cecil, Kain
Surviving Members: DK Cecil
 
Attack him 4-5 times with Cecil before he turns into mist, then wait for him to
re-form. Three or four rounds of this and he'll be done. 

3.2 Soldiers and Officer
------------------------
HP: 27 (Soldier)
EXP: 480 
Party: DK Cecil
Surviving Members: DK Cecil
 
Again quite straightforward. Just take out the Soldiers and let the Officer run
away to avoid receiving excess EXP. 

3.3 Octomamm
------------
HP: 2350
EXP: 1200
Party: DK Cecil, Tellah, Rydia
Surviving Members: DK Cecil, Tellah
 
Nothing fancy here. Attack with Cecil and use Lit1 with Tellah. Have Tellah use
Cure2 if anyone gets low on health, and the fight will be over soon. If Rydia is
still alive by the time Octomamm is down to two arms, have Tellah cast Fire on
her. 

3.4 Antlion
-----------
HP: 1000
EXP: 1500
Party: DK Cecil, Edward, Rydia
Surviving Members: DK Cecil, Edward
 
This fight is slow but manageable. Make sure you have ~10 Cure 1s before
engaging Antlion.

Cast Chocobo with Rydia if she has enough MP, then kill her off and let Cecil
take over. Every attack by Cecil prompts a counter from Antlion, so use Cure 1s
whenever his HP dips below 50 or so. Have Edward hide and parry; if he's killed
before he can hide, simply revive him.
 
3.5 Water Hag
-------------
HP: Hit three times
EXP: 800
Party: Edward
Surviving Members: Edward
 
Three hits and the hag is done. The only risk in this fight is if Edward misses
several times in a row. Put him in the back row if you're having trouble.
 
Interestingly, Cecil and Rydia do not receive any EXP from this fight, while
Kain does.

3.6 Mom Bomb
------------

HP: 11,000 (Mom Bomb – I only dealt ~900 damage before it transitioned), 50
(Bomb), 100 (GrayBomb)
EXP: 2460
Party: DK Cecil, Rydia, Rosa, Edward, Yang
Surviving Members: DK Cecil, Edward, Yang.
 
This fight can be tricky as you need to keep the right set of characters alive
at the end, but it's not too bad.
 
Set your lineup so that three slots are in the back row. Put Cecil and Rosa in
the back, with Rydia and Edward in the front. Doing it this way, Yang will enter
in the back row.
 
On Edward's first turn, have him Hide. Keep him hidden for the remainder of the
fight.
 
Let Cecil and Yang beat up on Mom Bomb, using Cure1 with Rosa to keep their HP
full. Rydia will die off soon – don't worry about her.
 
After Mom Bomb explodes, again use Rosa to cure Cecil and Yang, but don't revive
her if she falls. Get off a round or two of Kick with Yang and Dark with Cecil,
but above all else keep their HP high. When the bombs start detonating, so long
as they don't gang up on Cecil or Yang character you should be fine. If one of
them falls, try and use a Life and hope the other bombs leave them alone. 

3.7 Fabul Battles
-----------------
General and Fighter (x3)
EXP: 820 (only kill the Fighters)
 
Weeper, Imp Captain, Water Hag (x2)
EXP: 490
 
Gargoyle
EXP: 320
 
Party: DK Cecil, Yang, Edward
Surviving Members: DK Cecil, Yang, Edward
 
Before the battles, place Cecil, Edward, and Yang in the back row and give Yang
defensive gear. None of these fights are hard, as you can simply whack away at
them with all three. Heal when needed and revive anyone who gets KO'ed, as you
want all three characters to survive all six fights.

3.8 Milon
---------
HP: Online sources say 3100
(https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Scarmiglione_(Final_Fantasy_IV_2D)), but
for me he transitioned after ~2250 damage)
EXP: 3800
Party: DK Cecil, Tellah, Palom, Porom
Surviving Members: Everyone
 
This fight isn't too bad. Use Cure2s to clear out the Ghasts, then let Cecil go
to work on Milon while the twins use Twin and Tellah cures the group.
Annoyingly, Milon counters every attack with Lit 1. If Palom and Porom die, just
revive them and heal up.

3.9 Milon Z
-----------
HP: 3000
EXP: 4000
Part: DK Cecil, Tellah, Palom, Porom
Surviving Members: Everyone
 
Another manageable fight. Put Tellah, Palom, and Porom in the front row before
the fight (so that they'll be in the back for the actual fight). Attack with
Cecil, use Cure 2 against Milon Z with Tellah, and use Cure 2s with Palom and
Porom. If Palom or Porom fall, don't worry too much. Once Milon Z has ~200
health left bring everyone back to life and finish him off with a Cure 2.
 
Milon Z is also weak against Holy, so the White arrows do decent damage if you
run out of Cure 2s for Palom and Porom to throw.

3.10 Yang and Guards
--------------------
HP: 300 (Guards), 62,000 (Yang – don't need to do all this)
EXP: None
Party: Cecil, Tellah, Palom, Porom
Surviving Members: Doesn't matter
 
Take the guards out quickly using Tellah's Virus. Don't bother using physical
attacks as they retaliate with Mini, which can get ugly fast. For Yang, attack
him with Cecil after he uses his second Kick and the fight will end.

3.11 Baigan
-----------
HP: 3500 (Main Body), 350 (Arms)
EXP: 4820
Party: Cecil, Tellah, Palom, Porom, Yang
Surviving Members: Tellah, Palom, Porom, Yang
 
Set Tellah, Palom, and Porom in the back row.
 
This is another fight that is easy to win but tricky to ensure the right people
are standing at the end. Have Palom take out one arm with a Fire 2, and have
Tellah cast Ice 3 on the body, which will respond by casting Wall. Attack the
other arm until it has <100 health left, then attack the main body with Cecil
and Yang, healing with Tellah, Palom, and Porom. If Palom or Porom falls, don't
worry about reviving them yet.
 
After three rounds, Baigan's Wall should wear off, at which point cast Ice 3
again. Revive the twins and heal everyone except Cecil. If Baigan does not kill
Cecil, have Palom use Fire 2 to do the job. Attack with Yang throughout, and if
Baigan is still standing after three rounds, use a multi-target Ice 3 with
Tellah to finish things off. If you're low on MP, use Psych to replenish;
alternatively, use Virus on Baigan, as the arm will simply detonate afterwards.
If its health is low enough, it won't pose a risk to your party. 

3.12 Kainazzo
-------------
HP: 4000
EXP: 5500
Party: Cecil, Tellah, Palom, Porom, Yang
Surviving Members: Tellah, Palom, Porom, Yang
 
Kainazzo is interesting, as Big Wave's damage output is tied to his health.
Early on, don't worry if Palom and Porom fall. Immediately hit him with Lit 3
with Tellah. Then hit him with one or two Lit 2s plus attacks from Cecil and
Yang to bring him down to ~500. Heal as needed with Cecil and Yang during this
stage.
 
Now revive and restore Palom and Porom, as Big Wave is no longer strong enough
to knock them out. Have Palom knock Cecil out with Fire 2, then finish Kainazzo
with Lit 3. 

3.13 Dark Elf
-------------
HP: About 2000 to transition, 3000 after
EXP: 6000
Party: Cecil, Tellah, Yang, Cid
Surviving Members: Tellah, Yang, Cid
 
Put Yang, Cid, and Tellah in the back row. Equip a RubyRing to Tellah, which
will prevent him from getting Pigged.
 
This fight isn't too bad. During the first phase, attack with Cecil (use the
Legend, as the Dark Elf is weak against Holy), Cid, and Yang, and use Tellah to
keep everyone but Cecil healed. After about three rounds of attacking, kill off
Cecil, then finish the first phase by attacking with Yang and Cid.
 
Once the Dark Elf transitions, you want to quickly cast Weak on him and then
attack with Yang or Cid to finish him off. If you'd rather not use Weak, have
Tellah use Level 3 elemental spells and use Yang and Cid to heal, but the fight
is hard this way.

3.14 The Magus Sisters
----------------------

HP: 2500 (Sandy), 4300 (Cindy), 2200 (Mindy)
EXP: 9000
Party: Cecil, Tellah, Yang, Cid
Surviving Members: Tellah, Yang, Cid
 
Behold the awesome power of the Earth Hammer. Select and use it from the Item
menu while Cid has it equipped, and he will use a mini-Quake against everyone
for a good amount of damage. Combined with Cecil using his Dancing Daggers
against the middle sister (from the Item menu, of course), your damage output is
several times higher than if you were using regular attacks. Just be careful not
to take out the left and right sisters with Quake.
 
The Magus Sisters will rotate through a pattern of Fire2, Ice2, Lit2, and Virus.
Attack the middle sister with Yang and heal with Tellah – you can use Cure 2 if
your target isn't Walled, otherwise use a Cure 2. If Virus OHKOs someone, revive
them, Cure 2, and keep going. Tellah can Psych the left or right sister if he's
low on MP.
 
Once the middle sister is down, kill off Cecil, then use Ice 3 on the remaining
sisters. That's it! 

3.15 Valvalis
-------------
HP: 6000
EXP: 9500
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rosa, Yang, Cid
Surviving Members: Kain, Yang, and Cid
 
Valvalis is obnoxious, but not too bad once you know how to approach her. The
biggest challenge of this fight is having the right people alive at the end.
 
Put Cecil and Rosa in the back row and everyone else up front. Give Cecil the
best armor you have. He will be your tank for this fight (that's right, the ol'
Level 1 tank). Valvalis has three attacks: a physical attack, Wind, and Ray,
which causes gradual Petrify. The only attack that can kill someone is her
physical attack. Since Wind puts characters into critical status, Cecil will
protect them so long as he's not also critical! (Or defending. Do NOT defend
with Cecil)
 
In general, I try to get in the following cycle. Jump with Kain. After he lands,
attack with Yang and Cid and use Dancing Daggers with Cecil. Have Rosa keep
Cecil's HP up and use Heals to remove Petrify. Note: if Cecil uses Dancing
Daggers against Valvalis's Spin phase, they'll do no damage.
 
If Cecil ever gets hit with Wind, heal him immediately. If anyone gets knocked
out, revive them quickly. 
 
Once Valvalis is below 300 health, switch rows and then heal Yang, Cid, and Kain
to full health while letting Cecil and Rosa die off. Jump with Kain, and then
finish her off with Yang and Cid.
 
This fight is much less frustrating than the Hardtype version, where you have to
kill Kain off too!

3.16 Cal and Brena
------------------
HP: 1000 (Cal), 300 (Brena)
EXP: 1000 each, 6000 total
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rosa, Yang
Surviving Members: Kain, Yang
 
This fight isn't bad once you know how to approach it. If either the Cals or the
Brenas are the only dolls remaining, they will transform into Calbrena. Since
Calbrena gives 12,000 EXP, we want to avoid fighting her.
 
Simply pick off one Cal and one Brena at a time. Jump with Kain, use Dancing
Daggers with Cecil, and attack/Kick with Yang. Cecil will again act as your
tank, so don't worry about keeping Kain and Yang's HP up (but revive them if
they fall). Use Rosa to heal Cecil, or Yang if Rosa falls.
 
When there is one Cal and one Brena left, whittle their health down so that each
can only survive one more attack. Heal Yang and Kain, then kill off Cecil and
Rosa. Attack in quick succession with Kain and Yang, and hope the attacks don't
miss J.

3.17 Golbez
-----------

HP: 2250? (FF Fandom says 9,999, but he fell after about 2250 for me)
EXP: 20,000
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Yang
Surviving Members: Yang
 
As soon as the fight begins, revive Cecil and give him a Cure 2. You'll need
quick fingers here, which is why we lowered the Battle Speed before the
Cal/Brena battle. You can try getting Kain in the air after doing this, but I've
never been able to.
 
Once Rydia rejoins the team, quickly revive the team using Lifes and Cure 2s.
Then starting whittling Golbez's HP down. Sources online say you need to deal
9,999 damage here, but he typically falls after about 2250 damage for me. One
Jump, Titan, and a Dancing Daggers from Cecil should get him close to down.
Depending on damage rolls, you may want to attack with Yang as well, which will
do 100-150 damage.
 
Once Golbez is one hit from Yang away from dying, let him whittle down your
party. Keep Yang healed, and try to have his turn queued as Golbez takes out the
last remaining party member. Then finish him with Yang.
 
If Golbez doesn't die as expected, try and revive your party, since Yang cannot
survive for long on his own.
 
Again, save states are useful here since you can better calibrate when to
isolate Yang. Plus, if you fail during a save state you don't have to repeat the
Cal Brena fight!

3.18 Dr Lugae
-------------

HP: 6600
EXP: 15,000
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Yang
Surviving Members: Yang
 
Before the fight equip Yang with you're a Cat Claw, a Bolt Claw, the Bandanna,
the Black Belt, and the Strength Ring. Bolt Claws do 4x to Machine enemies
(which the second form of Lugae is), so with this and all the stat boosts from
his other equipment, Yang can deal north of 2000 damage in a single hit.
 
Focus your attacks on Lugae during the first phase: Jump with Kain, Dancing
Dagger with Cecil/Rydia, and Attack with Yang. Heal with Rosa as needed, which
shouldn't be much. Once Lugae falls, Balnab will self-destruct and take out one
of your characters.
 
At the start of the second fight, revive whoever Balnab took out and start
whittling away. Dancing Daggers with Cecil/Rydia, Jump with Kain, and Attack
with Yang. Use Rosa to heal and revive people who are taken out by Laser.
 
When Lugae gets low on health, heal Yang and kill off all your others
characters, then finish him off with Yang. Laser is tied to Lugae's health, so
it won't be an issue at this point of the fight.
 
Don't heal much afterwards, since you will need to kill everyone off in the
upcoming Dark Imp fight anyway. To avoid getting killed by a back attack, I'd
recommend reviving everyone but not refilling their HP.

3.19 Dark Imps
--------------
HP: 199
EXP: 5820
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Yang
Surviving Members: Yang
 
This fight is easy. Take out two of the Imps, then heal Yang and kill off your
other party members before finishing the third one. 

3.20 Stalemen
-------------
HP: 2100
EXP: 4200
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Edge
Surviving Members: Kain and Edge
 
These guys don't pose much of a challenge. Put Kain and Edge in the back, and
then kill off the first golem using Kain's attack and Rydia's Ice 2. Get the
second golem within a hit or two of death, then kill off everyone in your party
except Kain and Edge.

3.21 Rubicant
-------------
HP: 25,200
EXP: 25,000
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Edge
Surviving Members: Kain
 
This is Kain's fight. Give him the Ice Brand along with the Bandanna, Black
Belt, and Strength ring. With this setup, his jump can do in excess of 6000
damage.
 
Rubicant counters physical attacks with a group Fire 2, so other than Jumping
with Kain the only thing I do is throw Dancing Daggers with Edge for ~750
damage. If you don't have a stockpile of Dancing Daggers, just Jump with Kain.
 
Have Cecil, Rydia, and Rosa revive people who are killed by Glare, otherwise
have them defend.
 
Whittle Rubicant down to ~3000 health (about 4 Kain jumps if Edge is throwing
Dancing Daggers). Slowly kill off Cecil, Rdyia, and Rosa. Keep Kain and Edge
fully healed, and wait until Rubicant uses Glare on Edge. If he targets Kain,
have Edge bring Kain back to life, heal Kain, and continue waiting. Once Edge is
gone, quickly Jump with Kain and the fight will be over.

3.22 The Four Fiends
--------------------

HP: Not entirely sure. From my gameplay I estimate Milon ~17,500; Rubicant
~27,500, Kainazzo ~ 22,500, Valvalis <= 25,000.
EXP: 62,500
Party: Cecil, Rydia, Rosa, Edge, FuSoYa
Surviving Party Members: FuSoYa
 
This fight is tough, but manageable with the right preparation. Once you're past
Rubicant, things should be ok.
 
Before the fight, put FuSoYa, Edge, and Cecil in the back row. Have FuSoYa in
the middle slot. Set the battle speed to its lowest level; if you want a
challenge, see on how fast a speed you can beat this fight.
 
Your equipment should look like this:

-Cecil: Ice Brand, Aegis Shield, Diamond Helm, Ice Armor, Samurai Glove
-Edge: Cat Claw, Cat Claw, Samurai Helm, Samurai Armor, Rune Ring
-Rydia: Charm Rod, Silver Shield, Tiara, Sorcerer Robe, Rune Ring
-Rosa: Lunar Staff, Silver Shield, Tiara, Sorcerer Robe, Rune Ring
-FuSoYa: Initial Equipment

The Cat Claws give Edge +10 Agility, which gives him two extra defense
multipliers and an extra magic defense multiplier. Since he won't be using his
physical attack for the fight, this is well worth the loss in attack power. I
put the Ice Armor on Cecil because it grants resistance to all three elements.
 
Your general priorities in this fight are:

-FuSoYa: always use level 3 elemental spells: Fire on Milon, Ice on Rubicant,
-Lit on Cainazzo and Valvalis.
-Rydia: always use level 2 elemental spells
-Edge: Revive or throw elixirs if someone needs them, otherwise use his Ninja
abilities
-Cecil: Revive or throw elixirs
-Rosa: Revive or throw elixirs
 
Milon isn't too bad. A Fire 3 from FuSoYa, two Flames from Edge, and two Fire 2s
from Rydia should trigger the transition to Rubicant. Have FuSoYa heal/parry on
his second turn, and then queue an Ice 3 before Milon falls, so that he hits
Rubicant right at the beginning of the fight.
 
Rubicant is nasty because he uses nothing but multi-targetting attacks: Fire 2,
Fire 3, Glare in order. End this fight quickly: Ice 3 with FuSoYa, Ice 2 with
Rydia, and Flood with Edge. Have Cecil and Rosa use Elixirs if anyone is low on
MP and revive anyone who falls to spread out the damage from Glare. This fight
can get ugly if Rubicant does Glare more than once.
 
Kainazzo is manageable. Revive your party quickly and cast Cure 4 with FuSoYa.
Hit him with Lit spells with FuSoYa, and have everyone else keep the party alive
and well. If you're in good shape, use Lit 2 with Rydia or Blitz with Edge.
Kainazzo will attack four times and then use Big Wave, so if you have critical
members, heal them in advance of Big Wave.
 
Valvalis can be tricky, since her Weak is now multi-targeting. Be patient and
keep everyone alive and FuSoYa's MP high. Once you've done two Lit 3's with
FuSoYa, let Valvalis slowly kill your party, using Elixirs/Cure 3 on FuSoYa
whenever Valvalis casts Storm. Ideally you will have FuSoYa's turn queued up
when Valvalis kills the last party member so that you can quickly cast Flare.
Flare is the fastest queueing spell, so hopefully you can get it off and finish
Valvalis before things go south.


3.23 CPU
--------
HP: 20,000 (CPU), 2000 (Attacker), 2000 (Defender)
EXP: 150,000
Party: Cecil, Rydia, Rosa, Edge, FuSoYa
Surviving Party Members: FuSoYa
 
On the first turn, have FuSoYa cast Nuke to take out the Defender in the bottom
right. Then settle in for a slow but simple fight. The Attacker's Laser does a
fixed 10% of each character's HP every round, so you're in no risk of dying so
long as you keep up with healing.
 
Edge is the main damage doer here. Haste him and Slow the Attacker. Have Edge
throw Dancing Daggers. Use Dancing Daggers with Rydia, Ice Brand with Cecil, and
cast Cure 2 on the group with Rosa. FuSoYa can attack or heal. FuSoYa's greater
HP means he takes more damage every round, so you may need to give him a
dedicated Cure 2 or Cure 3 every now and then.
 
If you're feeling lucky and want to speed things up, have FuSoYa cast Wall on
Cecil and then bounce Flares off it. Just pray it doesn't hit the Attacker! This
strategy is more viable on an emulator.
 
Once you've done over 10,000 damage to the CPU (about 15 Dancing Daggers worth),
kill off everyone except FuSoYa, then have him cast Meteo to end the fight.

3.24 Zeromus
------------
HP: Variable (61,000 plus a possible refill of 45,000 - 49,000)
EXP: None
Party: Cecil, Kain, Rydia, Rosa, Edge
Surviving Party Members: Kain
 
Buckle up. This fight is a real challenge but a lot of fun once you get the hang
of it. Make sure you have at least 30 Elixirs and 20 Lifes.
 
Party Order (top to bottom – this matters!): Kain, Edge, Cecil, Rydia, Rosa
 
The only equipment that matters is for Kain: Gungir Spear, Aegis Shield, Dragoon
Helm and Armor, Protect Ring. This setup gives him maximum possible magic
defense (particularly the Aegis Shield, whose +3 Wisdom boost gives us an extra
magic defense multiplier), which will let us tank Zeromus's Virus.
 
There are four phases to this fight, which we will tackle one at a time. There's
RNG involved in the first phase, but none after that. The first phase RNG should
go in your favor ~60-70% of the time.

3.24.1 Phase I
--------------

After being restored by your former party members, do the following:

-Have Cecil use the Crystal on Zeromus the second time he shakes
-Press and hold to have Kain attack
-Zeromus will transition. On Rosa's turn, quickly have her cast Slow.
-Have Edge throw the Spoon 

If Zeromus's Nuke counter kills Rosa, reset. I believe Zeromus is impossible if
you don't get two Slows in, and if Rosa is killed you don't have enough time to
revive her and cast a second Slow.
 
Your next action will depend on Zeromus's counterattack:

-If Kain was killed, have Rydia revive him and Cecil Elixir him
-If Kain was injured, have Rydia Elixir him
-Otherwise, just press and hold attack until Rosa's second turn

Have Rosa cast Slow a second time. Then:

-If Edge and Rydia are both alive, have Edge throw the Excalibur and Rydia use
an Elixir on Kain (it's timing should coincide with Rosa's slow animation).
-If one of them is dead, just wait on the other's turn until the Slow animation,
and use an Elixir on Kain
 
Unless Zeromus's Nuke counter kills Kain, Kain should be at full health with his
turn queued when Zeromus casts Big Bang. Kain will live through this. Have him
throw an Elixir during the Big Bang animation, then Jump on your next turn to
skip the second Big Bang. We're now in Phase II.

3.24.2 Phase II
---------------

From here on out it's Kain v. Zeromus. In this phase, Zeromus's pattern is:

-Part 1: Black Hole, Disrupt (this action is invisible or coincides with him
shaking), Disrupt, Big Bang (he won't case Black Hole the first time he does
this)
-Part 2: Black Hole, Disrupt, Disrupt, Big Bang
-Part 3: Virus, Black Hole, Disrupt, Disrupt, Big Bang

When Kain lands at the start of Phase II, Zeromus will be about to start Part 2.
Now settle into the following pattern:

-When Zeromus begins Part 2, attack (during Black Hole animation), then Jump.
-When Zeromus begins Part 3, use an Elixir (during Virus animation), attack
(during Black Hole animation), then Jump
-When Zeromus begins Part 1, attack (during Black Hole animation), then Jump.

Simple. If Zeromus is casting Black Hole, attack. If he's casting Virus, use an
Elixir, otherwise Jump. Note: even if you're a bit behind (e.g. attack just
after the Black Hole animation) you should still be able to get these turns off.
 
Zeromus will transition to Phase III if he takes a turn while his health is
between 12,000 and 16,000. This transition is the scariest part of the fight,
since if you miss it and get off-sync with his new phase, you might get hit by a
Big Bang. You won't like getting hit by a Big Bang.
 
The way I try to identify the transition point is by watching Zeromus's actions
every time I attack or use an Elixir. In Phase II, these are synced up with
Black Hole/Virus animations. Thus, if you're ever about to execute one of these
commands and Zeromus does nothing, he has transitioned to Phase III and you need
to Jump immediately. You can also keep rough track of his HP, but this is
admittedly hard given all the other things you need to keep track of during the
fight.
 
It may be possible to revive Edge and have him throw the Spoon in order to skip</pre><pre id="faqspan-2">
Phase 3 altogether, but that would be difficult to do in real time (you'd need
to keep very precise track of Zeromus's HP). If anyone can come up with a
consistent strategy for doing this, I'm all ears, as it would shorten the fight
dramatically.

3.24.3 Phase III
----------------

This phase is similar to Phase II, but now Zeromus uses Nuke instead of Virus.
The big difference is that Kain cannot consistently survive Nuke. Also, at the
start of Phase III Zeromus refills his HP :).

-Part 1: Disrupt, Disrupt, Big Bang
-Part 2: Black Hole, Flare, Disrupt, Disrupt, Disrupt, Big Bang
 
We have a new cycle now:

-When Zeromus begins Part 1, Jump
-When Zeromus begins Part 2, use a Life on Edge (during Black Hole animation).
You then get a blessed break, as Kain will get his turn before Zeromus casts
Nuke. Wait and have Kain attack during Flare animation. Your next actions depend
on the outcome of Zeromus's Nuke

*If Nuke kills Edge
-Press and hold to attack one more time with Kain (Zeromus does nothing), then
Jump

*If Nuke damages Kain but doesn't kill him
-Have Edge use an Elixir on Kain
-Press and hold to attack twice each with Kain and Edge
-Jump with Kain
-Attack/Throw with Edge (will be right before Big Bang)

*If Nuke kills Kain
-Have Edge use a Life on Kain
-Have Kain use an Elixir
-Parry with Edge (I find having him attack messes up the timing too much)
-Jump with Kain
-Attack/Throw with Edge (will be right before Big Bang)
 
Continue this until you see Zeromus use Meteo, which signals he has moved into
his final phase.

3.24.4 Phase IV
---------------

When Zeromus is below 12,000 HP he'll start using Meteo. Congrats—there are no
more Big Bangs to dodge!
 
This phase is why we picked up the Drain Sword.

-Use an Elixir on Kain right after the first Meteo (assuming it hit you.
Sometimes it misses)
-Wait until the second Meteo, then use another Elixir during the animation.
-Attack Zeromus once, then use an Elixir right after the next Meteo

Now settle into the following pattern:

-Press and hold attack so that Kain attacks twice
-Use an Elixir

Doing this, you should have no problem staying alive until you can whittle down
the last 10,000 or so of Zeromus's health.
 
Congrats on taking down one of the tougher low-level bosses around!
 
A few notes:
-Throwing the Spoon and the Excalibur is not essential, it just speeds things up
-I believe the Drain Sword is necessary. Zeromus is too fast to heal from Meteo
and also attack.
-They say a picture is worth 1000 words, which is just about as long as this
description of the Zeromus fight is. If you'd rather see a video of this
approach, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWqio8oi3Jo

********************
4. Other Information
********************

******************************
4.1 The Exchange Screen Glitch
******************************

(Note: I did not discover this glitch. For a text description, see Penguin8R's
description here: https://pastebin.com/yk6dcg4u. For a video demonstration, see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utIVOJekE8c.)
 
The Exchange Screen Glitch allows you to quickly underflow any consumable or
equippable items to generate a stack of 255 of them. The links above do a good
job describing the glitch, but I'll write a few words here in case the links
break in the future.
 
The basic mechanics of the glitch work as follows:

-Have two stacks of item X you want to duplicate
-Enter the item exchange screen
-Place one of the stacks of X in the top exchange screen, then place it on top
of the second stack of X in your inventory.
-Select the slot in the top exchange screen where the stack of X just was. This
is a hidden stack of 0 X's.
-Place this stack in your inventory
-Exit the exchange screen
-For equippables, have a character equip X from the 0 stack. This will create a
stack of "-1" X's, which the game will interpret as 255.
-For consumables, get into a fight, and have a character use X. This will again
cause an underflow glitch and result in a stack of 255 X's.
 
To expand on these details a bit:

-If you get in a fight and run away or win without using the underflow, the 0
stack will disappear.
-There are two ways to trigger the exchange screen. One is by winning an item
from a monster fight. The other is by opening a treasure chest (or receiving a
plot item) containing a new item when your inventory is full
-If you ever need to fill up your inventory, you can just buy single Cure 1s
from an item store
-If you only have one stack of X and a monster drops an X, the glitch still
works exactly as above.
-However, if you only have one stack of X and a chest gives you an X, the X will
simply be added to the existing stack. You will not be taken to the exchange
screen in this case.
 
There are a few possible uses for this glitch in a Low Level run.

-Getting money. Buy two stacks of an expensive item, use the underflow glitch,
and then sell the resulting 255.
-Duplicating useful items/weapons, such as Elixirs

***************************************
4.2 Stealing Shields for Rydia and Rosa
***************************************

Rydia and Rosa can't usually equip shields, but there's a glitch with Edge's
Sneak technique that allows them to. To perform this trick, run into a fight
that contains an Armadilo. Kill all the enemies except one Armadillo, then kill
off all your characters except Edge and whichever lady you're trying to get a
shield for (let's say Rydia).
 
On Edge's turn, wait a few seconds and then use the Sneak command. With any
luck, Rydia will get her turn while Edge is about to steal. Quickly enter the
item menu with Rydia. If Edge successfully steals a Silver Shield, Rydia will be
able to select the Shield, drag it up to the equipment box, and equip it. Don't
exit the item screen before the shield is equipped.

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5. Acknowledgements
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-To Square Soft, for making this great game
-To curtsed, for his video convincing me that a low-level Zeromus was possible
-To the Final Fantasy Fandom wiki (https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki) and
GameCorner guides (https://guides.gamercorner.net/) for centralizing a
tremendous amount of information about Final Fantasy and other games
-To penguin8r, for his video about the Exchange Screen Glitch