Final Fantasy XII Walkthrough

Giruvegan and the Great Crystal

Gate of Earth and Daedalus

There is a Save Crystal up ahead and to the left. Save there to enable teleporting. Go buy more Phoenix Downs or whatever if you need to. There are no new hunts at this time. Like I said before, though, you can get 1,800 gil from Montblanc for defeating Rafflesia, from the Garif. When you are ready, save and head west, which is pretty much the only direction you can go, then touch the Waystone.

Continue west and you’ll run into a cutscene, then you’ll be forced to fight Daedalus.

Boss Fight: Daedalus

Level / HP	Level 42 with 64,644 HP.
Steal	, , or rare .
Weak / Absorbs	Weak to Holy; absorbs Dark and halves the other six elements.
Reward	33 LP. Montblanc later awards 1,900 gil from himself, apparently.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel its opening Haste, then keep the party healthy through Tri-Attack and its physical combos. Below 60% HP it ignores Evasion, and below 20% it gains Haste Squared, so save the strongest damage for the finish if the last phase becomes messy.

If your guys are lucky, you can steal a nugget of Damascus Steel from him. If you’re not that lucky, you can steal a Dark Crystal. Nihopalaoa/Remedy, then Dispel if he’s buffed up. If you’ve been doing any hunting at all, this guy should really be a walk in the park. I didn’t even need the Nihopalaoa. Once he’s gone, you’ll get access to a new Waystone. Touch that to head to the next area.

The Water-Steps

Once here, you’ll find yourself inside a real maze of a place.

Area Enemies: Giruvegan

Choose an enemy to open its stats and loot chances. Mark, Rare Game, and Trophy badges flag special targets. Choose it again to collapse.

Gargoyle Baron

HostileFlying

Flying enemy. Use ranged attacks, poles, spears, or Magick; keep two Demon Tails if the Ame-no-Murakumo Bazaar recipe is a goal.

Chain family: Gargoyle
Level: 42–43
LP: 1
HP: 6,071–6,231
EXP: 2,817–2,993
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Vivian

Hostile

Important! Putrid Breath can inflict Disease, Confuse, Oil, Petrify, and several other statuses. Keep broad recovery ahead of attacks.

Chain family: Malboro
Level: 42–44
LP: 1
HP: 6,526–7,006
EXP: 3,380–3,748
Weakness: Holy

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Behemoth

Hostile

The Giruvegan variant has more HP than its Feywood counterpart. Isolate it before using Ice damage so nearby passive enemies are not provoked.

Chain family: Behemoth
Level: 44–45
LP: 2
HP: 12,199–12,619
EXP: 3,834–3,997
Weakness: Ice

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Mythril Golem

Hostile

Often begins under Shell. Water is the dependable weakness, and Mythril is its rare Steal and Monograph drop.

Chain family: Golem
Level: 43–44
LP: 2
HP: 17,733–17,973
EXP: 3,430–3,678
Weakness: Water

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Diakon Entite

Passive

Important! Appears only in heavy Mist and is passive until provoked. Do not use nearby Magick unless the party is ready for a level 45 Entite.

Chain family: Entite
Level: 45
LP: 7
HP: 48,042
EXP: 12,627
Weakness: Dark; absorbs Holy; immune to the other six elements

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

This first section is called The Trimahla Water-Steps. I have no idea why. XD Wind your way through the maze toward the far southwest corner of the map. You’ll have to toggle two switches to get there, both accessible if you simply go south from the main entrance. If you run across Mythril Golems, be sure to try to steal a nugget of Mythril from them. That’s useful to have later on. At the very bottom is a little green trail you can take that appears to span nothing. You may have to step out into thin air to make it show up. Take that to the next area.

You should now be in The Aadha Water-Steps. I still don’t know why it’s named that. The golems here guard either pathways or switches. There is an in a treasure just sitting in the middle of one of the pathways here, and a in another. Flip all three switches, which will have you kind of backtracking to the top at one point, and take the pathway at the bottom. You actually have to step on it to make it show up. This will take you to The Haalmikah Water-Steps and start a cutscene.

There’s basically only one thing you can do at this point: open Bulwark Chronos. See the shiny Save Crystal? USE the shiny Save Crystal! I’m guessing you’ve probably leveled everyone up at least twice, so it’s a good place to save. :D My guys were all level 52+ here. Well, at least one time. Another time, while going for all hunts and trophies, I was at 80+ for all. Open Bulwark Hemera. Expect Kenshin to show up. No, wait. That’s Himura. Never mind.

Optional Mythril Golem Loop

If you want to grind the two Mythril Golems, go back through both bulwarks and up the green steps. The golems should have respawned. Steal, defeat them, return through the bulwarks, and repeat as long as the Mythril or EXP remains worth the trip.

They belong to the Golem Chain family, so defeating only these golems preserves the chain. The normal item table still makes Mythril a rare Steal and Monograph drop, so this is an optional loop rather than a route requirement.

Gate of Fire and Tyrant

When you’re ready to move on, head west through both bulwarks and up the ramp to your left. It’s kinda hard to see. Turn right and go HALFWAY to the end of the walkway. That’s right. Turn slightly right and step out onto nothing again. Walk until you face a dragon in a cutscene.

Boss Fight: Tyrant

Level / HP	Level 43 with 180,428 HP.
Steal	N/A. Technicks are sealed for the entire battle.
Weak / Absorbs	Weak to Ice; absorbs Lightning and halves every other element.
Reward	33 LP. Montblanc later awards 1,900 gil from himself, apparently.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel its opening Protect and Shell, then use Ice or strong neutral attacks. Keep Shell active, recover immediately after Piercing Graviga, and expect instant casting below 50% HP. Confuse can create a breather if the party stops attacking long enough to use it.

Meet Tyrant. Steal from him! Just kidding. You can’t use any Technicks in this battle. Just Dispel and then hammer him. Watch out for his Piercing Graviga attack. If you see him readying that, be ready with some Curaja. Nihopalaoa/Remedy will Confuse him. Use that if you need a breather in the middle of the battle. Be sure to disable attack Gambits first, though. When you finally take him down, you’ll have the ability to use a new Waystone. Go back and save if you want or need to, then use the Waystone to enter The Great Crystal.

The Great Crystal

Area Enemies: The Great Crystal Story Route

Choose an enemy to open its stats and loot chances. Mark, Rare Game, and Trophy badges flag special targets. Choose it again to collapse.

Ose

Hostile

Its physical attacks can inflict Sap. Use Holy or neutral damage and do not let Haste or Sleep complicate a group fight.

Chain family: Coeurl
Level: 44–45
LP: 1
HP: 6,739–7,056
EXP: 1,887–2,061
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Reaper

Hostile

Important! Half may appear under Vanish. Use Holy or neutral damage and keep Dark attacks disabled.

Chain family: Ghost
Level: 45–46
LP: 1
HP: 9,931–10,111
EXP: 3,185–3,345
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Mythril Golem

Hostile

The Great Crystal variant reaches level 48. It often begins under Shell; use Water and treat Mythril as an optional rare Steal.

Chain family: Golem
Level: 45–48
LP: 2
HP: 17,733–18,453
EXP: 3,430–4,174
Weakness: Water

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

Necrophobe

Hostile

Important! Divide creates a full-HP copy. Defeat one target before the group multiplies and use Holy or neutral damage.

Chain family: Ghost
Level: 46–47
LP: 1
HP: 8,511–8,691
EXP: 3,063–3,223
Weakness: Holy; absorbs Dark

Steal chances
Item	Normal	Thief's Cuffs
	48.0%	80%
	9.7%	30%
	3%	6%

Normal Steal checks rare to common and stops at the first success. Thief's Cuffs can take multiple items; chains do not affect Steal.

Drop chances
No chain	Chain Lv 1	Chain Lv 2	Chain Lv 3
40%	45%	50%	55%
25%	30%	35%	40%
3%	6%	8%	12%
1%	2%	3%	5%

Each item gets its own independent roll. Chain level, not raw chain count, controls these rates.

This area can be somewhat confusing, so I’m including the directions you’ll need to follow. There is no useful in-game map, and the zone names are doing no one any favors.

Descend to the Crystal Core
Step	Action
1	Start at A Prama Vikaari. Face the blocked Gate Scorpio and call that north. You cannot open it without the , so ignore it for now.
2	Go west to Kabonii Jilaam Pratii’vaa. The other direction is for the optional return trip.
3	Get the treasure if it is there. It may be an or a , and you may need Float if it is trapped. Take the south exit that you did not use to enter, leading to Kabonii Jilaam Avaa.
4	Take the west path you did not enter from to Dha Vikaari Bhrum, then use Waystone VII to reach A Vikaari Kabonii.
5	With your back to the exits and facing the Waystone, take the southeast path to Sthaana Cancer and activate the Cancer Gate Stone.
6	Take the west path to Bhrum Pis Avaa, collect the treasure if it is present, which may be , then go north to complete the circuit back to A Vikaari Kabonii.
7	Take the southwest path to Bhrum Pis Pratii, continue southwest to Dha Vikaari Trahk, and use Waystone V.
8	At A Vikaari Bhrum, Waystone IV is on the platform and Gate Pisces blocks one path. With north as the direction the camera faces on arrival, go east to Trahk Jilaam Praa’dii.
9	Collect the treasure if it is there, which may be a , then continue east to Sthaana Aries.
10	Necrophobes may appear near the Aries Gate Stone. Defeat them, touch the switch, then backtrack through Trahk Jilaam Praa’dii to A Vikaari Bhrum.
11	Take the southeast path to Trahk Pis Praa, then the west exit to Sthaana Pisces. Clear the enemies and activate the Pisces Gate Stone.
12	Take the north path to Dha Vikaari Jula and use Waystone III.
13	You are now in the Crystal Core near Waystone II. Watch the cutscene, go down the ramp, use the Save Crystal, and take Waystone I to Giruvegan’s Gate of Wind.

Gate of Wind and Shemhazai

Now that we’ve left The Great Crystal, go south and open Bulwark Minas. Let’s fight Shemhazai, shall we?

Boss Fight: Shemhazai

Level / HP	Level 45 with 91,136 HP.
Steal	, , or rare .
Weak / Absorbs	No fixed weakness; Barrier Change shifts her weakness after you strike the current one.
Reward	47 LP and Shemhazai as a story Esper.
Drops	None.
Strategy	Dispel the opening Haste, use neutral physical damage instead of chasing a changing weakness, and recover Silence before it locks out healing Magick. Damage Cut begins below 60% HP, so keep a stable healing rhythm through the longer final phase.

Nihopalaoa will cause Immobilize, freeing you up to attack at a distance at your leisure. I was only able to steal a Sagittarius Gem from her. When you’re done, you’ll have yourself a merry little Esper, Shemhazai, the Whisperer. Given the number of enemies I’ve fought up until now, with the Trophy hunts, Mark hunts, sidequests, and Esper hunts, this was a pathetically easy fight.

The Treaty-Blade

Head south and open the next doorway. You should see Bulwark Aeon. Open that and head to the Empyrean Waystone in the sublevel. Read the inscription, then touch the device and watch the cutscenes. You’ll end up with the .

Optional: Get Excalibur

Now that you ARE the chosen, meaning you have the Treaty-Blade, the sealed route beyond Gate Scorpio is available. The enemies are much stronger than the story route, but the reward is . You want it, really!

Use the dedicated Great Crystal Optional Route for Gate Scorpio, , the timed gates, the overlapping Excalibur chests, and the return route.

Use the Tellurian Waystone to return to Gate of Earth, then use the Gate Crystal to teleport to Balfonheim. It’s time to go see Reddas again.