Rubicant and the Falcon
Cross the central bridge on B5F once you’ve finished the treasure sweep. Edge finds the people he has been looking for, but this is not going to be a pleasant reunion.
Boss Fight Prep
Use Parry while the scene plays out. Rosa can Pray if you’d like her to do something, but don’t spend valuable recovery items trying to optimize this battle. Rubicant restores the party before his own fight, so the damage here isn’t a reason to use an ItemAn item found in the middle chest of Baron Castle's opening treasure room. or Cabin immediately afterward.
After the scene, you can open the menu before speaking to Rubicant. Check your equipment and rows. Kain should have Equipment: Lances and spearsEquippable by Kain. Power 77; Acc 80%. Attack element: Ice, Projectile. Reusable Item spell: Ice2.; Rosa and Rydia belong in the back. Edge learns Flood and Blitz, but acquiring a new spell doesn’t mean the next boss is the best place to use it indiscriminately.
Rubicant has 34,000 HP. His cape is the catch: choosing MagicBlack Magic in Tellah's post-trial menu, costing 15 MP. Its effect has not yet been tested on this run. while it’s open does not guarantee it will still be open when the spell resolves. Magic20-MP Black Magic learned by Palom at Level 19. Its combat effect has not yet been tested on this run. is the uncomplicated choice for Rydia. If you want to use MagicBlack Magic in Tellah's post-trial menu, costing 15 MP. Its effect has not yet been tested on this run. or Shiva, watch the cape and allow for casting time rather than repeatedly feeding him Ice damage.
Have Kain AbilityKain leaves the battlefield, then lands on his target to attack. While airborne he also misses party healing; wait for recovery before jumping if his HP is low. with Equipment: Lances and spearsEquippable by Kain. Power 77; Acc 80%. Attack element: Ice, Projectile. Reusable Item spell: Ice2. and Cecil Fight. Keep Rosa ready to recover from the boss’s heavy damage, and revive fallen characters before trying to squeeze in another attack. Edge can attack while things are stable, then switch to ItemRevives a KO'd ally. Can appear as loot from a FloatEye and Eagle formation southwest of Baron. or healing items when Rosa needs help. You don’t need to throw away your stock of rare weapons to win this.
When several characters are hurt, group healing is more useful than repairing one small deficit at a time. Keep the healer alive first. A fight that takes a few extra rounds is preferable to one spectacular round followed by four people lying on the floor.
After victory, follow the scenes, then heal before entering the northern room. Rubicant’s courtesy applies before his fight, not to every subsequent room in the tower.
The Trap and the Way Out
Entering the Crystal Room triggers a fall. The dialogue makes it sound painful, but the fall itself doesn’t deduct HP. The battles on the escape route certainly can, which is why we healed first.
Most enemies are familiar from the approach. Ironman adds a tougher physical target, and Q.Lamia joins the possible formations. Keep the same priorities: remove threats one at a time, use Holy against BladeMan or Grudger when practical, and don’t leave fragile characters injured between fights.
After landing, go north for HiPotion, then turn south and take the exit. Follow the connecting floor onward. In the next treasure-bearing area, go east for a second HiPotion before entering the large room.
Inside is an airship. Edge names it Falcon, and it becomes our way out. That’s right - another dungeon where you can’t use Exit.
Back to Dwarven Castle
Once outside, land and save. The Falcon cannot cross magma, so return to Dwarven Castle using the available route rather than searching for a way straight across the lava.
First, visit Fat Chocobo and clear some room. Store unused equipment such as Equipment: SwordsEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain. Power 45; Acc 50%; Strength −5, Agility −5, Vitality −5, Wisdom −5, Will −5. Effective against Giant, Pudding, Undead enemies. Drains HP; undead can reverse the benefit., spare armor, and claws you aren’t currently using. Keep your equipped gear, EquipmentEquippable by Cecil (Paladin), Kain, Edge, Rydia (both forms), Palom, Edward. Power 28; Acc 94%. Reusable Item attack with no MP cost., recovery supplies, useful ammunition, and Equipment: ThrowablesEquippable by Edge (Throw only). Power 40; Acc 99%. Attack element: Projectile. Consumed by Edge’s Throw; not an equippable hand weapon.. Leave at least one free inventory slot before speaking to the king: the next key item competes with ordinary items for space.
Talk to King Giott to receive Necklace, then find Cid in the infirmary. Follow his airship-upgrade scene. The Falcon can cross magma afterward, opening up more of the Underworld.
Recover before leaving. You can use the inn, or follow the bookshelf passage by Fat Chocobo all the way through to Dwarven Base’s Water of Life pot near the outside exit. It is not one of the first pots inside the castle passage.
The next sensible stops are Kokkol’s Smithy and Tomra, before committing to another dungeon. A little shopping and storage now will save us another argument with a full inventory later.