Final Fantasy IX Disc 2

Alexandria and Lindblum

Rusty and Marcus, Sittin’ in a Cage!

After the cut scenes, you get to play swing-the-cage with Marcus and Rusty. Just press left once, and the cage will go that way. When it starts to swing back right, press right. When it head’s left, press left. Repeat until you crash. You can press more that once, but you have to time it right. When you have control again, you’ll start running around the balcony. Depending on if you’ve been leveling some characters, you might be slightly depressed at the fact that Rusty is still around level 12. But don’t worry - the will help him stay alive. Or give it to Marcus and let Rusty stay KO’d. If you stand at the top of the screen - to the right of the ladder, enemies will continuously come to you.

For either character, equiping a will cause Ice magic to give you HP. If Steiner can stay alive, killing off Marcus will mean all XP goes to Steiner. On the other hand, if you’re playing the original PS1 version, there’s a bug that transfers any stat gains Marcus has to a character you will meet soon. See the Optional Marcus leveling bug for more information.

However you choose to proceed, Marcus will leave as soon as you get to the top of the ladder - make sure you unequip anything of value from him and equip Steiner and reset his abilities (and revive and heal him, if needed). Good abilities to equip for this section: Level Up, Alert, Man Eater, HP+10%, Distract, Cover, Chemist. To move on, take the ladder at the far left of the balcony, and head left at the top.

No Time to Lose

You’ll end up with 30 minutes to save dagger, or Brane will show up and it’s game over. Marcus will leave, but your other friends will join you. Head down toward the bottom of the screen.

You are in the rightmost tower of Alexadria Castle, and you need to go to the Queen’s Chamber. There are no treasures along the way, but there are fights that you can avoid - if you take the right path. Since these battles take valuable time, they are best avoided. The Knigths of Pluto won’t attack, but soldiers will.

Down one screen from where Marcus leaves.
Left one screen to the fountain.
Up 1 screen to the castle entrance.
Up 1 screen to the weird painting entryway room
Up either the left or right stairs, then exit out the 2nd floor doorway opposite the painting hanging over the stairs
Quickly dash up the winding staircase to your left (where Dagger and Zidane first met)
At the top of that staircase, head up one screen
Take the middle door to the Queen’s chambers.
Head up the two steps to where the purple light is glowing in the corner
Select “Try to move it.”
Go though the doorway that just opened up

The bridge to the next area is moving around. “Examine” it to can get across it. If you can time it right, you can end up at the place where the two chests are stored, too. There is a in the right one, and an in the one on the left. Hop back on to the moving bridge and make your way to the rightmost platform. Wind down the stairs to the 3/4 platform. You’ll know it when you see it.

Following this path, it’s possible to run all the way to the bottom of the stairs in 3 minutes with no battles. There’s a doorway at the top and a staircase at the bottom.

Boss Fight Prep

Make sure your characters are equiped to fight a boss fight, and make sure Zidane is able to steal. Go through the doorway at the top to start the battle with…

Boss Fight: Zorn & Thorn

Steal	—, ; —,
Weak / Absorbs	No elemental weaknesses or absorbs
Reward	0 AP, 0 Gil
Drops	n/a
Strategy	Steal first, then attack whichever one receives power from the other, then take them down one at a time.

(in blue on the left) and (in red on the right) aren’t all that difficult. You probably already have everything carries, so concentrate on stealing the from , then kill off to end the battle (be sure you don’t kill either of them off until you are done stealing!) During the battle, will keep giving magic power, and versa - that lets the receiving character cast a powerful charged spell. Physically attack the recipient to cancel it (if you’re not done stealing, have Vivi do it so you don’t kill them off).

Back for More

Check on Dagger (the timer should be stopped by now). Unequip any unique items (i.e., you have only one of) from Freya. Head down one screen to the Moogle (Mosh) and mognet/ /save. Head all the way back up to Queen Brane’s chamber, pausing just before entering for…

Boss Fight Prep

Make sure your characters are equiped to fight a boss fight, and make sure Zidane is able to steal. Go through the doorway to start the battle with…

Boss Fight: Beatrix

Steal	, ,
Weak / Absorbs	No elemental weaknesses or absorbs; vulnerable to Slow
Reward	0 AP, 0 Gil
Drops	n/a
Strategy	This fight is unwinnable. Steal if you want, use your strongest physical attacks, and survive until Climhazzard ends it.

She’s got a , another and a . Try to steal the , then kill her off / survive. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t get the , but it does allow Zidane to learn Mug, which is pretty cool. You’ll be able to get another one before too terribly long, though. You’ll have to fight a next, but you’ll have a pretty strong ally so it’s shouldn’t be too tough.

Escape From Alexandria

Eventually, you’ll regain control as Zidane’s group. Be sure to equip Dagger with the and , then wind your way down the stairs. After fighting some Black Mages, then a , be sure to unquip any unique stuff from Steiner, then head down to the 3/4 platform. You’ll fight again as and her group then you’ll go back to Zidane’s party.

IMPORTANT: On the 3/4 platform, head up throught he door to the place where you picked up Dagger before; (GOING DOWN THE STAIRS EXITS THIS AREA.) You’ll meet Mosh the moogle there again. This time, he has a favor to ask, kupo! Get his letter for Montey then /save.

Now head down a few screens to the lowest level and you’ll eventually get out into Gargan Roo where you’ll fight…

Boss Fight: Ralvuimago

Steal	, ,
Weak / Absorbs	Weak to Ice and Bio; absorbs Earth
Reward	7 AP, 1404 Gil
Drops
Strategy	Hit it once, then steal while it is compact. Wait for it to unfold before attacking again; Float protects against Earth Power.

Sell the if you can (you should have everything else.) You can throw a at him to inflict Silence, Darkness, and Poison, but if you’re trying to steal the vest, wait until you succeed. You can also have Dagger cast “float” to keep them from being hurt by his Earth magic counter (cast when he’s hit twice in a row.) Interestingly, it appears that float does NOT get reflected. You cannot float him. Avoid physical attacks when he’s in his compact form. Bio works really well! Watch a bunch of cut scenes, then get ready for.

That Pinnacle Totally Rocks!

You’ll wake up at Pinnacle Rocks and are immediately thrust into a kind of mini game to test if you are worthy to have . He hides 5 manifestations of himself throughout the little forest area, each with a different piece of the “Hero’s Story.” You have to find them all, listen to the story and figure out what order the story goes in. When you get control, you’ll see a moogle (Monty) and the manifestation will temporarily show up below the bridge. Equip/Mognet/ /save. Give him the letter from Mosh, and start looking for 5 Manifestations. Walk down the path toward the bottom of the screen and open the chest there for another .

Head slightly left and toward the back to where you saw when you first walked onto the screen. He’ll recite part of the story for you. Continue past him and left to get to the next screen. Head straight toward the treasure chest, and you’ll run into the next manifestation. After he receites another piece, open the chest to receive . Head forward and right, but not up the grassy pathway. At the back of the next screen, you’ll hear the third part of the story. You can’t get to the chest here, so ignore it for now and head back to the screen you came from. This time, take the green grassy pathway that leads up and left.

At the top of the path, take the left fork and run right along the bottom of the screen. you should end up where you started, near Monty. You’ll hear part 4 here. Go back left and this time take the other side of the path. As you wrap around near the treasure chest, you’ll be able to jump off and get it (it has a , if that’s worth anything to you). When you hop off the ledge the chest is on, head down one screen, up the grassy pathway and left back to the screen where Montey is, then go up one screen, back where you first met to hear the final piece. Go down one screen to where monety is, then left.

Head right and wrap around like you did when you were going after the chest on the ledge, but this time continue on to the bottom left of the path. Talk to at the end of the path and he’ll ask you to repeat back the four pieces of the story (one doesn’t belong) in order. Chose: Beginning, Cooperation, Silence, Hero (or Human).

The Full Story (in order)

Beginning: Once upon a time, 33 small countries fought together against an empire. One day, a rebel troop visited a man named Joseph, who lived with his daughter. Owing a debt to the troop, he gladly acceted their plea for help. They headed for a cavern in the snow field.

Cooperation: With Joseph’s Help, the troop defeated the in the snow field cavern and acquired the Goddess Bell they needed to enter the empire’s castle.

Silence: On their way home, they fell into a trap set by a traitor. Joseph gave his life to save the troop. The troop left without telling Joseph’s daughter, Nelly about the tragedy.

Hero: Historia’s explination: Although Joseph’s death was not reported to his daughter, the manner of his death speaks for itself. This is the story of a true hero.

Human: (You may chose this alternate ending instead of the one above, if you want.) Historian’s Explination: The fact that they didn’t report Joseph’s death to his daughter was indicative of their guilt for failing to protect him. In the end, heroes are also human.

Before you go, you might want to select the “Don’t jump off” option and go back and talk to Monty. He’s got a letter from Stiltzkin. You can also have Dagger learn your new summon. When you’re ready to advance the plot, jump off and head out.

Lindblum Castle: Signs of Destruction

After you’ve watched the destruction, you’ll be able to witness it first hand. Technically you can leave the city as just Zidane and Dagger, but it’s better to wait until you have a few more characters. After entering the city, head left to the inn and go upstairs. Give Moodon a letter from Serino, read a letter about Lowel from Ruby, and get a letter from Moodon to Moonte. /save and leave the inn.

Go up one screen to the screen where the pickle selling lady was. Go all the way to the back left on that screen and pick up the Lindblum Card. The Card Freak house right next door has a and an inside (two chests). I’m sure you could have picked this up before, too. Head up and to the right to the screen where the item and weapon shops were.

You’ll be taken to see the Regent, given a little gil and then dropped of right back here. When you are ready to leave, you can talk to the guy by the fountain. Before you go, though, the weapon shop is open, and the lady on the other side of the fountain is now an Item shop. I recommend you Synth the and a , and equip the to Zidane before leaving.

Despite what the item store lady says, she actually has one more item for sale now than she use to. Take the hint and buy some . Head down one screen and watch the ATE. If you want, you can leave and visit Pinnacle Rocks. You can pick up a and an , if you didn’t do it while Zidane was out here earlier.

You can also head over to the Theater district, which I suggest you do. Head to the artist’s shop and get the out of the chest there. After that, head toward the plaza by Tantalis’ hideout. Advise Lowel of Ruby’s theater, then head into the hideout. Talk to the kids, then hit up the hideout’s treasure reserve. You’ll get 340 Gil, 993 Gil and 262 Gil.

When you are ready to leave, head to the Business District and talk to the man by the fountain. Watch the ATE, and after a while, you’ll be back in control by the Dragon’s Gate. Get the hidden treasure chest again (it’s a this time), buy any supplies you need (you can pickup here for the first time, and I recommend buying 50 or 60, if you can afford it.) Then mognet/ /save. Give Moonte a letter from Moodon, then head out.

Go north to Qu’s Marsh and head to the frog pond. Talk to Qunia, equip Quina, catch frogs if you want, then decide if you want to level up Dagger before moving on. If you visit Gizamaluke’s Grotto and give Moguta your , you can get an . Head out on to the plains at the top of the vine if you want to level up Dagger. You may want to seriously consider this, since you’ll be leaving this area and won’t be back for a while (and you can earn a tidy sum of money in the process, too.)

When you’re ready to move on, head back to Qu’s Marsh and go forward a few screens to Quale’s House.