Final Fantasy X Walkthrough

Macalania Woods

Four Paths

After the cutscene, go talk to Auron, then continue up the slope to the Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship.. After using it, take a look around. The lowest path goes back to the Thunder Plains. The right path goes toward Bevelle, but the Chocobo Knights are guarding it. The upper path winds through the woods toward Lake Macalania and Macalania Temple, so that is where you are going.

A fourth, sparkling path eventually connects this clearing to the Lake Road. It opens after the boss ahead, making the long backtrack much less hateful. The family event that lets you use its altar for the Celestial Mirror waits until after the Calm Lands; the shortcut itself does not.

Toward Macalania Temple

Follow the upper path. If you meet a ChimeraFiendLarge Macalania Woods fiend that uses several elements and teaches Kimahri Aqua Breath through Lancet., don’t forget to have Kimahri use LancetSpecial AbilityKimahri ability that drains HP and MP and can teach him specific Ronso Rage techniques from compatible enemies. on it to learn Aqua BreathRonso RageKimahri Overdrive learned from Chimera that deals Water-elemental magic damage to all enemies.. ChimerasFiendLarge Macalania Woods fiend that uses several elements and teaches Kimahri Aqua Breath through Lancet. have 5,250 HP and can make a mess with several elements, but Nul spells, Darkness, Silence, Magic BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to halve the target's Magic., and Poison all help. They resist Fire and Water, so use Ice or Lightning when you want elemental damage. Kimahri’s Stone BreathRonso RageKimahri Overdrive learned from Basilisk that attempts to petrify all enemies. will kill groups of ordinary fiends off easily too.

The path twists, but it does not really branch. At the first sharp right-angle turn, look behind the big tree trunk on the west side for a well-hidden Sleepy Cait SithEquipmentLulu weapon hidden behind a tree in Macalania Woods - South with Sleeptouch. carrying SleeptouchEquipment AbilityGives attacks and skills a 50% base chance to inflict Sleep when the target is not immune.. Keep going to the small grassy patch for a chest containing 2,000 Gil.

On the next screen, follow the path around its large northeastern loop. A partly concealed chest just off the trail contains three Phoenix DownsItemRevives one KO'd character with half of their maximum HP.. Keep walking and you should find Barthello. After a brief discussion, he’ll be on his way. Continue on and you’ll meet mister butterfly.

This starts the Macalania Butterfly Hunt. You can try both courses now for an MP SphereSphere GridTurns an empty node into an MP +40 node. and an EtherItemRestores 100 MP to one character., but you can always come back; the dedicated page has the full routes, changing reward windows, and Kimahri’s eventual sigil. If you start a course, catch seven blue butterflies before time runs out and avoid the red ones unless you would prefer to stop for a battle. If you don’t meet the goal in the time allotted, you will have to start that course over again.

Whether you beat it or decide to come back later, continue to Macalania Woods - North. At a right-angle bend before the trail climbs out of the area, look behind the tree for a chest containing a RemedyItemRemoves most standard status ailments from one character.. Follow the rest of the path to the Lake Road Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship..

Prepare for Spherimorph

Save your game. Are you noticing a pattern yet? You should see O’akaMerchantTraveling merchant whose later prices depend on the party's cumulative early donations. standing in the distance. Open his shop, but do not buy anything on the first visit. When you close the menu, tell him his prices are “Too pricey” and he will lower them. Sell off excess gear, then shop for real if you want.

I had Tidus buy the Sonic SteelEquipmentTidus weapon sold by O'aka on the Macalania Woods Lake Road with First Strike., since it has First StrikeEquipment AbilityLets the equipped character begin battle ready to act, including in encounters with dangerous opening attacks., which is very handy. Whatever you buy, remove elemental-strike weapons before the next battle; striking with the wrong element heals the boss. Equip ordinary or status weapons, build any aeonBattle SystemA summoned ally that replaces the active party until it is dismissed, defeated, or wins the battle. Overdrives you want to use for the finish, save again, and head forward until Auron stops you. Follow him through the hole.

Spherimorph

Make sure you use all your guys on this one, even if they just guard for a round. Lulu does the real work, while Tidus reveals the current weakness and Yuna keeps everyone alive.

Only one element at a time works on SpherimorphBossMacalania Woods boss whose single elemental weakness changes whenever that weakness is struck.. Hit him physically to see what he counters with, then attack with the opposite element. If he casts Thunder on you, cast WateraBlk MagicDeals moderate Water-elemental magic damage to one enemy. on him. If he casts Water, use ThundaraBlk MagicDeals moderate Lightning-elemental magic damage to one enemy.; Fire calls for BlizzaraBlk MagicDeals moderate Ice-elemental magic damage to one enemy., and Blizzard calls for FiraBlk MagicDeals moderate Fire-elemental magic damage to one enemy.. Once you hit the weakness he uses Elemental ShiftBoss AbilitySpherimorph response that randomizes which one of the four ordinary elements will damage it next., so test again instead of assuming the gelatinous ball has developed consistency.

Haste Lulu, have her use FocusSpecial AbilityRaises the active party's Magic and reduces magical damage taken; stacks up to five times., and let Auron apply Power BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to halve the target's Strength. and Mental BreakSkillPhysical attack that attempts to reduce the target's Magic Defense to zero.. Yuna’s Nul spells make the test counters much safer. PressBoss AbilitySpherimorph attack that removes half of each active character's current HP. removes half of everyone’s current HP, so it looks much scarier than it is; heal afterward and keep going. You can steal an EtherItemRestores 100 MP to one character. or two (or three, if Rikku remains persuasive).

Keep track of the damage you have done. When SpherimorphBossMacalania Woods boss whose single elemental weakness changes whenever that weakness is struck. is near 2,000 HP, Valefor’sAeonYuna's first aeon, a flying non-elemental summon whose starting Overdrive is Energy Ray and whose second is Energy Blast. charged Energy BlastAeon OverdriveValefor's stronger second Overdrive, learned from the dog in Besaid before the party leaves the island. is the simplest finish if you collected it in Besaid: it is not elemental and cannot be absorbed. Energy RayAeon OverdriveValefor's starting Overdrive, which damages every enemy. is also safe, but may not reach the 2,000-damage threshold. A charged IfritAeonYuna's second aeon, a Fire-elemental summon obtained at Kilika Temple that absorbs Fire damage. works when the boss needs Fire, or IxionAeonLightning-aligned aeon acquired at Djose Temple; it absorbs Lightning and can cast Thundara when first obtained. when it needs Lightning. A 2,000-damage finishing blow earns the second Lv. 2 Key SphereSphere GridSphere used to open a Lv. 2 locked node on the Sphere Grid.. If you miss the OverkillBattle SystemFinishing an enemy with at least its required final-hit damage threshold, commonly improving AP or item rewards. and really want it, this is why you saved. :)

Jecht’s Sphere and the Long Way Back

When you beat SpherimorphBossMacalania Woods boss whose single elemental weakness changes whenever that weakness is struck., the party finds the first Jecht’s SphereKey ItemThe first recording in the Jecht Sphere sidequest; collecting it causes the remaining recordings to appear across Spira.. Auron learns Shooting StarBushidoAuron Overdrive learned after viewing one Jecht Sphere; it deals heavy damage and ejects a vulnerable target., and nine more recordings appear across Spira. Head back out and save your game again, unless you really want to fight that thing again.

A quick note about the Lv. 2 Key SpheresSphere GridSphere used to open a Lv. 2 locked node on the Sphere Grid.: on the Original or Standard Grid, they give you several ways to cross between character routes. As for me, I find it very useful to have two stealers and two healers. Yuna can pop over to Rikku’s grid for Use and Steal, while Auron can move toward Tidus and Kimahri’s routes. I usually wait until Tidus has Quick HitSkillFast physical attack with unusually short recovery time, allowing the user to act again sooner. before backing him toward Yuna’s abilities. Expert Grid layouts and individual progress vary, so YMMV; the Sphere Grid guide has the broader planning rules.

Before taking the upper-left passage toward Lake Macalania, search the newly opened sparkling path southeast of the Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship.. Near its entrance, opposite the butterflies and partly hidden behind a stump, pick up Al Bhed Primer Vol. XVKey ItemOne of 26 volumes that progressively translates the Al Bhed language.. If you are doing the long backtrack, continue down this shortcut toward Macalania Woods - South. Otherwise, return to the Save SphereField SystemField sphere used to save and restore the party's HP and MP; later spheres also connect to the airship. and head north toward the lake.