Hovercraft and Cave Eblan
The Enterprise is back on the surface, but the next destination isn’t somewhere we can simply land. First, let’s give the airship a way to carry the smaller vehicle we left behind. Apparently an airship needs an accessory before it can do the job of a tow truck.
Baron and the Hook
Fly to Castle Baron and speak with Cid’s two helpers on the eastern side of the castle. They install a hook on the Enterprise. Return to wherever you parked the hovercraft, fly directly over it, and press the same button you use to land. That picks it up. Pressing that button again over suitable ground drops it off.
You don’t need a separate menu command. If nothing happens, check that you’re directly over the vehicle rather than just beside it.
Storage Before Another Cave
Visit Fat Chocobo before filling the bag with another dungeon’s equipment. Deposit displaced armor and weapons that nobody is using, but keep EquipmentEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain, Edge, Rydia (both forms), Palom, Edward. Power 28; Acc 94%. Reusable Item attack with no MP cost., working bows and arrows, recovery supplies, and a way to summon the bird again.
Retain Yang’s useful claws and other good equipment in storage rather than treating his departure as proof they’re permanently useless. If space is desperate, the inexpensive elemental claws are easier to replace than the more interesting finds. WeaponEquippable by Cecil (Paladin). Power 40; Acc 99%; Will +3. Attack element: Holy. Keep for the forging quest; it cannot be stored with Fat Chocobo. still can’t be stored; don’t spend five minutes trying to convince the menu otherwise.
Aim for several free slots. We have three entrance chests, a settlement, and a longer treasure route after it. This is not the time for the traditional one-empty-slot challenge.
If you skipped the optional Eblan Castle treasure run, it is still a separate stop available nearby. The new hook also permits a visit to the small grotto reached by hovercraft from the Mythril area, but its exchange needs an item we don’t have yet. We will return when there is something useful to trade.
Finding the Cave
Use the world map if the airship view is being unhelpful. From Baron, Agart is on the island to the south; Eblan is west of Agart on the southwestern landmass. The ruined castle is the useful landmark, not the destination this time.
Drop the hovercraft on usable ground near Eblan Castle, then land the Enterprise separately and board the hovercraft. Follow the rocky shallows west to Cave Eblan. The hovercraft can cross those shallows, not arbitrary stretches of deep ocean.
Cave Entrance: B1F
GiantBat is weak to Fire and arrows; don’t use Bolt against it. Fire also helps against Skull, while Ice is useful against Staleman. Rosa can contribute with her bow without draining the MP you’ll want for healing. Leave EquipmentEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain, Edge, Rydia (both forms), Palom, Edward. Power 28; Acc 94%. Reusable Item attack with no MP cost. on Rydia for a reusable attack when magic isn’t necessary.
From the entrance, walk east through the hidden wall to reach Equipment: ThrowablesEquippable by Edge (Throw only). Power 40; Acc 99%. Attack element: Projectile. Consumed by Edge’s Throw; not an equippable hand weapon., then continue through the next hidden section for Remedy. Return to the main route, enter the water, and work south to the southeastern Vampire chest. Those are the three treasures on this floor.
Head to the southwestern stairs to reach B2F, the underground settlement. Talk to the refugees and search the infirmary pots for two Potions. This is a village tucked into the cave, not the end of the dungeon.
Shopping and Recovery
Check what the party is already wearing before buying duplicates of Babil’s treasure. The useful comparisons are:
| Purchase | Price | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Black body armor | 10,000 Gil | A useful Rydia upgrade over Wizard: more defense, magic defense, and Wisdom, at the cost of Will. |
| Equipment: Body armorEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain, Cid. Def 17; Eva −10%; Mag Def 4; Mag Eva 2%. Resists Fire. | 35,000 Gil | Consider a second suit for Kain if Cecil has the tower’s free one. Compare his current armor first. |
| Equipment: ShieldsEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain, Cid. Def 3; Eva +30%; Mag Def 2; Mag Eva 2%. Resists Fire. | 10,000 Gil | Buy only if the party actually needs another; check the free shield and displaced alternatives. |
The weapon shop also sells Equipment: SwordsEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain. Power 75; Acc 80%. Attack element: Ice., Equipment: Lances and spearsEquippable by Kain. Power 77; Acc 80%. Attack element: Ice, Projectile. Reusable Item spell: Ice2., and Archer. If you collected Babil’s treasure, you shouldn’t need to buy them again. Don’t buy a stack of Equipment: Ninja swordsEquippable by Edge. Power 25; Acc 90%. or Equipment: BoomerangsEquippable by Edge. Power 20; Acc 80%. Attack element: Projectile. just because they’re new names; let’s meet their prospective user before outfitting him from scratch.
Keep ItemRevives a KO'd ally. Can appear as loot from a FloatEye and Eagle formation southwest of Baron. and status recovery available, and refill your working arrow stack if it is running low. The inn costs 700 Gil. Rest here before taking the settlement’s northern exit into the longer cave route. We’ll collect that route’s treasure before approaching the next story encounter.