Final Fantasy X Walkthrough

Calm Lands

Onto the Plains

Head left and follow the cliffs west, around, and down onto the plains. Maechen is along the way if you want the history of this place. When Rin shows up, he’ll be in what I can only describe as a boat on skis. This mobile shop disappears after you leave north or begin chocobo training and then leave or reload the area, so buy anything you want now. Its BucklerEquipmentTidus armor sold only by the first-visit Calm Lands mobile shop; it carries Magic Counter. with Magic CounterEquipment AbilityCounters damage from a magical attack with a basic physical attack when possible. is unique to this shop; the Savior BangleEquipmentLulu armor sold by the Calm Lands mobile shop with Stoneproof and Silenceproof. and Curative TargeEquipmentRikku armor sold by the Calm Lands mobile shop with Auto-Med. are also useful, but don’t spend yourself broke. A very expensive optional aeonBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. is not far away.

Mech ScouterEnemyLightning-weak machina found in the Calm Lands; it can be dismantled with Steal but is not a Monster Arena capture record. appears here but is not a Calm Lands capture record. Everything else in that table is. MalboroEnemyDangerous Calm Lands fiend whose Bad Breath inflicts multiple status effects; Provoke prevents it from choosing that attack. is the dangerous one: below half HP it can use Bad BreathRonso RageMulti-status attack learned by using Lancet on a Malboro or Great Malboro; Calm Lands Malboros also use it below half HP unless Provoked., which is status hell and a likely Game Over without protection. Provoke stops that nonsense. AnacondaurEnemyCalm Lands serpent fiend whose Stone Gaze can Petrify one target and whose Sonic Tail hits the active party. and CoeurlEnemyCalm Lands feline fiend that may use Blaster to inflict Petrification when its HP is low. can Petrify people, so status protection is more valuable than another tiny stat bump while you explore.

The place is enormous, so here is a sweep that collects the important things without making you cross it at random:

Open the Monster Arena

Talk to the Arena owner and say, “All right, I’ll do it!” Buy Capture weaponsEquipmentA Monster Arena weapon carrying the Capture ability. for at least Tidus, Wakka, and Auron, and be sure to equip them. That combination gives you speed, range, and Auron’s Piercing for Armored targets. The character holding the weapon must land the finishing blow; magic, aeonsBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle., and Overdrives do not register a capture.

Use the browser-local Monster Arena tracker to keep track of all the monsters you capture so you don’t have to keep coming back to check-in with him. It stores the data on your device, so use the same device throughout the capture party.

Capture one SkollEnemyCalm Lands lupine fiend weak to Fire and Lightning and required for the area's Monster Arena set., NebirosEnemyFlying Calm Lands insect fiend weak to Ice and required for the area's Monster Arena set., Flame FlanEnemyFire-aligned Calm Lands flan weak to Ice; magical damage is best for weakening it before a Capture-weapon finish., ShredEnemyArmored Calm Lands fiend weak to Fire and required for the area's Monster Arena set., AnacondaurEnemyCalm Lands serpent fiend whose Stone Gaze can Petrify one target and whose Sonic Tail hits the active party., OgreEnemyLarge Calm Lands brawler weak to Fire; when it raises its dukes, it prepares to counter physical attacks., CoeurlEnemyCalm Lands feline fiend that may use Blaster to inflict Petrification when its HP is low., Chimera BrainEnemyCalm Lands chimera variant that can teach Kimahri Aqua Breath and takes half damage from Fire and Water., and MalboroEnemyDangerous Calm Lands fiend whose Bad Breath inflicts multiple status effects; Provoke prevents it from choosing that attack., then report back. The southern entry plateau is good for SkollEnemyCalm Lands lupine fiend weak to Fire and Lightning and required for the area's Monster Arena set., NebirosEnemyFlying Calm Lands insect fiend weak to Ice and required for the area's Monster Arena set., Flame FlanEnemyFire-aligned Calm Lands flan weak to Ice; magical damage is best for weakening it before a Capture-weapon finish., and ShredEnemyArmored Calm Lands fiend weak to Fire and required for the area's Monster Arena set.; the northwest is better for the five larger fiends. Opening the Arena unlocks ChimerageistMonster Arena CreationCalm Lands Area Conquest creation unlocked by capturing one of every capturable fiend in the area., awards 60 Farplane WindsItemUse item that attempts to inflict instant KO on all enemies., and produces the locked NirvanaCelestial WeaponYuna's Celestial Weapon, claimed from the Monster Arena chest after capturing one of every Calm Lands fiend and obtaining the Celestial Mirror. chest. You need the Celestial Mirror before that chest will give Yuna her weapon.

If any of your characters run up against a Lv. 3 Lock on the Sphere GridCharacter GrowthFFX character-development board where Sphere Levels move a character and spheres activate reached nodes., don’t backtrack - just be patient. You can get plenty of Lv. 3 Key SpheresSphere GridSphere used to open a Lv. 3 locked node on the Sphere Grid. as soon as you clear the opening section of Mt. Gagazet.

Belgemine’s Shiva

To the south and west of the central Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship. you should find BelgemineCharacterTraveling summoner who challenges Yuna to optional aeon duels and awards items whether Yuna wins or loses.. This time she calls ShivaAeonIce-aligned aeon acquired during the Macalania Temple battle; she absorbs Ice and can heal herself with Ice magic..

I used BahamutAeonNon-elemental aeon acquired in Bevelle whose attacks can exceed the normal 9,999 damage limit without a powered Celestial Weapon.: Haste, Focus, Reflex, Aim, Cheer. After that, attack over and over. When you’ve got an OverdriveBattle SystemCharacter or aeon special attack resource charged according to the active Overdrive mode. ready, go ahead and use it; this should kill off ShivaAeonIce-aligned aeon acquired during the Macalania Temple battle; she absorbs Ice and can heal herself with Ice magic.. Her defense is unusually high, so Mega FlareAeon OverdriveBahamut's non-elemental Overdrive, which can exceed the normal 9,999 damage limit. does much more useful work than ordinary attacks. She uses BlizzaraBlk MagicDeals moderate Ice-elemental magic damage to one enemy. and physical attacks, then Heavenly StrikeAeon AbilityShiva's special attack, which deals physical damage and normally delays the target's next turn. when her gauge fills.

You’ll get 30 Power SpheresSphere GridActivates an HP, Strength, or Defense node that a character has reached. for winning, but more importantly you’ll get the Aeon’s SoulKey ItemKey item that allows Yuna to improve an aeon's attributes by spending spheres.. You may now modify your aeons’Battle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. attributes. Watch the tutorial to see how you can spend some of those spare Strength SpheresSphere GridTurns an empty node into a Strength +4 node. and level up Bahamut’sAeonNon-elemental aeon acquired in Bevelle whose attacks can exceed the normal 9,999 damage limit without a powered Celestial Weapon. Strength! If you lose, you get 30 Speed SpheresSphere GridActivates an Agility, Accuracy, or Evasion node that a character has reached. instead, plus the Aeon’s SoulKey ItemKey item that allows Yuna to improve an aeon's attributes by spending spheres., so the important part is guaranteed.

BelgemineCharacterTraveling summoner who challenges Yuna to optional aeon duels and awards items whether Yuna wins or loses. also tells you to seek her out at the hidden temple of Remiem if you need more training. The Remiem Temple and Optional Aeons guide covers the route and later rewards. If you go about the business of capturing fiends, you’ll earn a LOT of spheres. Having your Aeon’s SoulKey ItemKey item that allows Yuna to improve an aeon's attributes by spending spheres. at this point gives you somewhere productive to put them. BahamutAeonNon-elemental aeon acquired in Bevelle whose attacks can exceed the normal 9,999 damage limit without a powered Celestial Weapon. is arguably the best aeonBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. to start with.

Optional: Chocobos and Caladbolg

The chocobo trainer begins near the northwest corner. You do not need the Celestial Mirror to start training or ride a chocobo; you only need it to claim CaladbolgCelestial WeaponTidus's Celestial Weapon, reached after completing the four Calm Lands chocobo-training events and opened with the Celestial Mirror. after the final event. Complete Wobbly Chocobo first to earn an ElixirItemFully restores one character's HP and MP. and unlock both riding and the remaining training events.

Event	What changes
Wobbly Chocobo	Keep the chocobo on course by steering left and right. The first win unlocks riding.
Dodger Chocobo	The chocobo runs straight; dodge the incoming Blitzballs.
Hyper Dodger Chocobo	Dodge the Blitzballs and the extra birds.
Catcher Chocobo	Race the trainer, collect balloons, and avoid birds. This is the one tied to Tidus’s Celestial WeaponEquipmentA character-specific ultimate weapon powered up with its matching crest and sigil..

Beat Catcher Chocobo and the guard in the northwest stops blocking the sloping path. Go down there and use the Celestial Mirror on the seal to get Tidus’s ultimate weaponEquipmentA character-specific ultimate weapon powered up with its matching crest and sigil., CaladbolgCelestial WeaponTidus's Celestial Weapon, reached after completing the four Calm Lands chocobo-training events and opened with the Celestial Mirror.. If you leave the screen before collecting it, race the trainer again to move the guard; you do not have to win that repeat race.

But don’t stop there. This weapon starts out as crap, so level it up if you’ve gotten this far. A displayed Catcher Chocobo time of 0:00.0 earns the Sun SigilKey ItemTidus's sigil for the final Caladbolg upgrade in the North American English PS2 release.. Balloons subtract time, so the adjusted result can reach zero even though the run itself obviously took longer. This does not have to be your second win. The Celestial Weapons guide has the complete weapon, crest, sigil, and upgrade route.

Once you can ride, the chocobo featherItemUse item that grants Haste to one character for the battle. near the southeast edge opens the path to Remiem Temple. That side route also holds Al Bhed Primer Vol. XXIVKey ItemOne of 26 volumes that progressively translates the Al Bhed language.; the temple itself has more aeonBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. fights and the Cloudy Mirror race.

How Much Should You Do Now?

If you want, you can finally play BlitzballMinigameSpira's underwater team sport and recurring minigame; successful actions earn player EXP, and later prizes include Wakka's Overdrives and Celestial Weapon components. again. I’m all for continuing on with the game.

This is where I do my first real level-up sequence, but you have two sensible choices. My favorite is the efficient route: open the Arena, capture the Calm Lands and the Cavern of the Stolen Fayth if the party can handle it, take the readily available Lv. 3 Key SpheresSphere GridSphere used to open a Lv. 3 locked node on the Sphere Grid. from Mt. Gagazet, and save the serious leveling for Omega Ruins. Once the airship opens, bounce between Omega’s excellent AP and the unfinished capture areas that supply ordinary red spheres.

The backup is the grind route: start filling sets of ten in the Calm Lands, Thunder Plains, Macalania, the Cavern, Gagazet, and Zanarkand before the airship cleanup. It works and gives you a gentler power curve. It is also less elegant and involves substantially more walking. The Sphere Grid and Leveling guide preserves both full itineraries, including the old Besaid-to-Sin capture loop, without making you scroll past them every time you need this route page.

Continuing Northeast

When you’re ready, head to the upper-right corner of the Calm Lands. Bring a set of fully charged aeonsBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle., if you can, and swap out your Capture weaponsEquipmentA Monster Arena weapon carrying the Capture ability. for better ones. Go through the crevasse, use the Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship., and cross the bridge. You’ll meet the Guado. Here comes a nasty beast.

Defender X

Defender XBossArmored stone-and-machina boss guarding the bridge between the Calm Lands and Mt. Gagazet. is tough against physical attacks, but Armor BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to reduce the target's Defense to zero and remove Armored protection. works. Don’t bother with Power BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to halve the target's Strength. or Delay; he’s immune to them. Dark BusterSkillPhysical attack with a high chance to inflict Darkness for one turn. works too, though you’d best be ready for the Blast PunchEnemy AbilityDefender X attack that halves one target's current HP and delays the target; because it deals fractional damage, it cannot KO by itself. counter. HastegaWht MagicGrants Haste to the active party. and Dark BusterSkillPhysical attack with a high chance to inflict Darkness for one turn. before he gets too many shots off. I had moderate success with Quick HitSkillFast physical attack with unusually short recovery time, allowing the user to act again sooner.. Don’t forget to steal some Lunar CurtainsItemUse item that grants Shell to one character for the battle. from him.

If you would prefer to make the nasty beast considerably less nasty, Provoke it. Defender XBossArmored stone-and-machina boss guarding the bridge between the Calm Lands and Mt. Gagazet. will use Blast PunchEnemy AbilityDefender X attack that halves one target's current HP and delays the target; because it deals fractional damage, it cannot KO by itself. against the provoker every turn. Blast PunchEnemy AbilityDefender X attack that halves one target's current HP and delays the target; because it deals fractional damage, it cannot KO by itself. halves current HP, so it cannot deliver the killing blow. Everyone else can Armor BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to reduce the target's Defense to zero and remove Armored protection. and pile on damage while one increasingly annoyed character absorbs the punches.

Without that trick, Defender XBossArmored stone-and-machina boss guarding the bridge between the Calm Lands and Mt. Gagazet. uses HaymakerEnemy AbilityDefender X's extremely powerful physical attack, used after three ordinary attacks unless Provoke changes its behavior. after three normal attacks, and five actions against it before its turn can provoke SlowgaWht MagicAttempts to inflict Slow on all enemies.. Once Armor Broken and below 16,000 HP, it can cast Mighty GuardRonso RageKimahri Overdrive learned with Lancet after Biran uses it; grants Protect, Shell, and all four elemental Nul statuses to the active party. Several enemies use their own version. for Protect, Shell, and all four Nul statuses. Use DispelWht MagicRemoves most positive status effects and all four Break effects from one target., then remember to apply Armor BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to reduce the target's Defense to zero and remove Armored protection. again. Those Nul statuses also make Ifrit’sAeonYuna's second aeon, a Fire-elemental summon obtained at Kilika Temple that absorbs Fire damage., Ixion’sAeonLightning-aligned aeon acquired at Djose Temple; it absorbs Lightning and can cast Thundara when first obtained., and Shiva’sAeonIce-aligned aeon acquired during the Macalania Temple battle; she absorbs Ice and can heal herself with Ice magic. elemental Overdrives useless until the guard is removed. If SlowgaWht MagicAttempts to inflict Slow on all enemies. lands and your party is getting worked, bust out the charged aeonsBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle..

I don’t know what your aeonsBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. look like, but I finished the battle with Bahamut’sAeonNon-elemental aeon acquired in Bevelle whose attacks can exceed the normal 9,999 damage limit without a powered Celestial Weapon. 33,179-damage OverkillBattle SystemFinishing an enemy with at least its required final-hit damage threshold, commonly improving AP or item rewards. for two Lv. 2 Key SpheresSphere GridSphere used to open a Lv. 2 locked node on the Sphere Grid.. Take the right branch to go down into the valley and make use of the Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship. on your left.