===============================================================================
___ ___
/ / / / / / /
(___ ___ ___ ( (___ ___ ___ (___ ___ ___ (_/_
| | | )| )| | | )| )| | )|___ \ ) / )
| | | / |__/|| | |__/|| / |__ |__/| __/ \_/ / /
_ _ _ ,
- - / - - ,, , ,
('|| || || || ' _ ||
(( ||--|| || =||= \\ \\/\\/\\ < \, =||= _-_
(( ||--|| || || || || || || /-|| || || \\
(( / || || || || || || || (( || || ||/
-___-\\, \\ \\, \\ \\ \\ \\ \/\\ \\, \\,/
,
' ||
_-_ /'\\ \\ \\ \\ -_-_ \\/\\/\\ _-_ \\/\\ =||=
|| \\ || || || || || || \\ || || || || \\ || || ||
||/ || || || || || || || || || || ||/ || || ||
\\,/ \\,|| \\/\\ \\ ||-' \\ \\ \\ \\,/ \\ \\ \\,
|| |/
'` '
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================================
## # # # ### # ###
# ### ### ## ### ### ### ### # # # ### ### ## # #
# # ## # # # ## # # # # ### # # # ## # # # #
# # ### ### ## ### ### ### # # # # ### ### # #
## ### # # #
===============================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0 Version
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version 3.00 (2016-06-28):
- My third guide that has been completely redone years after writing the
original. Especially this one seems to have been written up in a hurry: I've
completely overhauled textual errors and the flow of the guide.
See the section 'Version 3 overhaul' for more info.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
1.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1 FAQ Info
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Version: 3.00
Last update: 2016-06-28.
Game version: INT/PAL (relevant for US version as well)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.2 Introduction
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a FAQ of Qoko, known as TheaN on Gamefaqs messageboards.
My real name is Arno Middelkoop and I'm from the Netherlands. View the
credits section on how to contact me for additional info, questions or
corrections, but refrain from flaming or insulting, because it will not do
anything good.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3 Subject introduction
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Is there really ultimate equipment? A doublesided answer: for weapons,
Celestial weapons severely overperform customized weapons as Celestials ignore
Defense. So for weapons, you can claim that the Celestials are ultimate. There
is still an option of customizing magic weapons as Celestials do not ignore
Magic Defense. This guide does not focus on Celestials, but rather on
customized equipment.
As for armors, you have to customize it yourself, and that's the main focus of
this guide. In a sense, there is no true ultimate armor: each combination has
their pros and cons. I will give a note to all non-obsolete armor abilities in
the game. Where this guide originally was focused around the BHPL argument, it
is now more mainstream for new user to FFX.
Perhaps the introduction of this guide requires an additional note: many of the
ideas presented in this guide were created in a collaboration of users on the
GameFAQs messageboards.
LOOK BELOW FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF USERS WHO WERE ONCE OR NOW INVOLVED IN THE
CREATION OF THE ULTIMATE EQUIPMENT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4 Collaborators
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This section has been added to honor the users who were early on the
messageboard, even before my account was created and found out most of the
ability combinations presented in this guide. The concept of this guide and a
few of the ideas (mainly to use BHPL with Regen, in combination with Sensorie)
are mine, but almost all of the non-BHPL ideas aren't originally mine. The
people who did come up with most of that:
- Theoden
- Thundaka
- jobber2022497
- Masamune3
- Split Infinity
- ArquillWephronic
- Can Eater
- Plushie
- Terence
- JungleJim
- Ceebs!
- darktemplar20
The user who put the strategies on the message board until the submission of
this guide:
- pjtierney2003
Since the creation of this FAQ, thanks go to:
- zzanmato
- GangstaL
- Sensorie
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.5 Version 3 overhaul
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course the guide has been completely redone textual. It sometimes amazes me
how terrible my English used to be while in high school. That said, certain
sections were also set up just messy and redone to improve readability.
As for content, I've decided to go into a different direction altogether:
1) I've first explained all ultimate armor abilities.
2) I've split up abilities based on what core they are part of: base,
(non-)BHPL or specific.
3) The section after that explains the remaining unique armor abilities and why
they have no spot on the ultimate armors.
4) The seperate ultimate armor section extends upon earlier explanations given.
5) In general, there is a lot more leniency for Break HP Limit: I've removed
all direct quotes from the BHPL arguments: I feel that the core information for
new users is that BHPL is not required for anything, but can still makes
certain encounters more trivial instead.
6) Equipment lists have been completely removed. It served no purpose
whatsoever.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.6 Credits
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This FAQ is created by me: Arno Middelkoop, aka TheaN.
PERSONAL USE
============
Feel free to modify for PERSONAL USE ONLY. This includes, and is pretty much
limited to, saving only sections you need onto your computer, copying/pasting
sections to print out for personal use. Once you are distributing it to sites,
magazines or selling it for profit, even without claiming it's your work, you
are breaking my Copyright.
SITES ONLINE
============
You cannot copy this FAQ/Guide to your site without my permission:
- do without permission, and you're plagiarizing.
- do with permission, but change a character, and you're plagiarizing.
- do both, and you're a real bad copy person.
Email me to grant permission on your site. Although I'll keep an eye out for
plagiarizing or changing the format. In most cases, I'll reject the offer,
unless I have proof of a good format.
Linking to any of the allowed three however, is allowed. GameFAQs and Neoseeker
both have connections to other sites, and it would be unfair to not grant them
that connection. I am not aware of any connections to supercheats, but if it
a connection, once again, don't mail me.
Until now, these sites have permission to post:
www.gamefaqs.com (main host)
www.neoseeker.com (second host)
www.supercheats.com (third host)
ILLEGAL POSTING
===============
These sites got their permission revoked:
www.dlh.net (and connections)
www.cheatbook.de (and connections)
Email me if this FAQ is on one of the above sites or another one. BUT DON'T
MAIL ME IF THEY LINKED IT.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.0 Table of Contents
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================================
Introduction 1.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAQ Info 1.1
Introduction 1.2
Subject Introduction 1.3
Collaborators 1.4
Version 3 changes 1.5
Copyright 1.6
===============================================================================
Table of Contents 2.0
===============================================================================
Ultimate armor abilities 3.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto-Haste (base core) 3.1
Auto-Protect (base core) 3.2
Auto-Phoenix (non-BHPL) 3.3
Auto-Potion (non-BHPL) 3.4
Ribbon (Dark Aeons) 3.5
Defense +20% (Penance) 3.6
Break HP Limit (BHPL) 3.7
Auto-Regen (BHPL) 3.8
===============================================================================
Remaining unique armor abilities 4.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto-Shell 4.1
No Encounters 4.2
Master Thief 4.3
Magic Def +20% 4.4
Auto-Reflect 4.5
Break MP Limit 4.6
Elemental Eaters 4.7
Obsolete 4.8
===============================================================================
Ultimate armors 5.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Core (Haste/Protect/Phoenix/Potion) 5.1
Dark Aeons (Haste/Protect/Phoenix/Ribbon) 5.2
Penance: (Haste/Protect/Defense +20%/Potion) 5.3
BHPL (Haste/Protect/BHPL/Regen) 5.4
Why Haste/Protect/Ribbon/BHPL does not synergize 5.5
===============================================================================
Ultimate weapons 6.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celestials (BDL/Triple Overdrive/varies) 6.1
Magical (BDL/Magic Booster/One MP Cost/Magic +20%) 6.2
Capture weapons 6.3
===============================================================================
Credits 7.0
===============================================================================
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.0 Ultimate armor abilities
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This section describes every armor ability used in an ultimate armor, ranked
based on the core use of the ability, the more mainstream the ability use the
higher the ability is ranked.
*REMEMBER* This whole guide is based on the end of the game. SOS abilities,
Proofs and Eaters can be very useful in the storyline and are recommended to
use as you will most likely not have superior abilities available.
NOTE: customize item sources are described with x for mass sources and o for
one time sources. Drop counts consider Overkills; non Overkills are halved.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 Auto-Haste (base core)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: applies Haste automatically: halves character's counter value
in the CTB bar (in practice leads to double the turns).
- Drop source: Dark Mindy.
- Customized: 80x Chocobo Wing
x ~60x: bribe Machea (Omega Ruins) for 360k.
o 99x: unlock Cactuar King.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In theory, Haste halves your character's Counter value in the CTB bar. This is
pretty technical: considering FFX has a turn-based battle system, this had to
be kind of complex. In practice, it means the characters get about double the
turns. A huge benefit of starting the battle with Haste is that this is applied
immediately, rather than after the first turn a character gets after applying
Haste.
Auto-Haste has several significant pros compared to Haste: it voids any dispel
effects and Slow completely. Getting revived after death will instantly apply
the effect. Casting manual Haste costs quite some crucial time, and especially
if it gets dispelled regularly this can be troublesome. All in all, Auto-Haste
is unarguably the best armor ability ingame.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.2 Auto-Protect (base core)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: applies Protect automatically: halves physical attack damage.
- Drop source: Dark Bahamut.
- Customized: 70x Light Curtain
x 40x: normal drop from Fafnir.
o 99x: unlock Juggernaut.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Halves any physical damage. In general, most physical attacks in FFX are more
powerful than the magical attacks and they are the great majority of attacks
done by endgame bosses. Auto-Protect is a base core ability because 255 Defence
can be easily broken by powerful common attacks (Obliteration, Dark Aeons
normal attacks, etc). You must half them to stay below 9999 damage if you don't
use BHPL, or to keep yourself in decent shape with BHPL.
Auto-Protect's pros compared to Protect are similar as with the Haste
comparison: it voids any dispel effects and getting revived after death will
instantly apply the effect. Casting manual Protect costs quite some crucial
time, especially because the game has no Protectega. If it gets dispelled
regularly you are in serious danger of being overwhelmed by damage: once you
are busier reviving and healing rather than casting Protect, you will
eventually reach the bottom of the downward spiral and wipe.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.3 Auto-Phoenix (non-BHPL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: revive other party members automatically with Phoenix Down.
- Drop source: Greater Sphere or Dark Cindy.
- Customized: 20x Mega-Phoenix
x ~40x: bribe Ghost (Sunken Cave) for 200k.
o 99x: unlock Pteryx.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With a maxed out amount of Phoenix Downs this armor ability makes you
invulnerable to at least 99 non-party hits regardless of damage if all three
party members have Auto-Phoenix. If two party members die, the third will
revive both with a single Phoenix Down, Mega-Phoenixes are not used.
Auto-Phoenix is part of the core of non-BHPL armors specifically: the problem
with items is that they do not heal for more than 9999. When your HP is max
9999 this is obviously not a problem. It is a problem when you have 99999
because Celestial strength is based on current:max HP. If a PD heals you for
just 10% of your HP Celestials are severely weakened, whereas it is not the
case if it's 50%. The same logic applies to Auto-Potion.
There are some subtle reasons why throwing PDs automatically is so much better
than using Quick Pockets and do it manually: obviously, it costs one turn at
least for the character throwing the PDs. More subtle is the fact that the KOd
characters get less delay till their next turn if a PD is thrown the moment
they die, thus allowing you to get back up sooner. When playing without BHPL,
you'd want to have Auto-Phoenix.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.4 Auto-Potion (non-BHPL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: uses your lowest potion available after reaching SOS-status.
- Drop source: Earth Eater, Land Worm and Sand Worm.
- Customized: 4x Stamina Tablet
x 2x: steal from Dark Ixion (among other rare steals).
o 60x: unlock One-Eye.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This ability might seem a bit outside the box, but for a non-BHPL armor
Auto-Potion is amazing. If you run with only X-Potions (or mix Trio of 9999)
Auto-Potion will protect you at least 99x times from any attack between
1-9998 damage. If the damage is lower than 5000 you can handle the attack at
hand more than once before Auto-Potion triggers, making it even stronger.
The combination of Auto-Phoenix and Auto-Potion makes the party surprisingly
versatile against a great variaty of attacks: single KO attacks are taken care
of by Auto-Phoenix, anything slightly lower will be healed up by Auto-Potion.
The same restrictions apply as with Auto-Phoenix: the items cannot heal more
than 9999.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.5 Ribbon (Dark Aeons)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: guards against all ailments, except Curse and Breaks.
- Drop source: Dark Aeons and Penance.
- Customized: 99x Dark Matter
x 2x: rare drop from Monster Arena creations.
o 99x: unlock Ultima Buster.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arguably Ribbon is the third best armor ability besides Auto-Haste and
Auto-Protect, if it wasn't for the problem it doesn't apply to as many
encounters as one'd expect. It is not required for any Area Creation, Nemesis
or Penance: not because these enemies do not use status ailments but because
they can be defeated before they apply them or just removed manually.
Only a few Dark Aeons can truly screw you over with a fatal combination of
ailments, and after they're defeated, Ribbon loses its purpose. As most keep
Dark Yojimbo on farm you should keep the Ribbon armors, but it does not have to
be used by default. Do beware that if you do not use Ribbon by default that you
run through the Calm Lands and Omega Ruins with Initiative or First Strike for
obvious multi-eyed reasons.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.6 Defense +20% (Penance)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: increases max defense by 20%.
- Drop source: none relevant.
- Customized: 4x Blessed Gem
x 6x: normal drop from Cactuar King.
x 1x: rare steal from Barbatos, Coeurlregina or One-Eye.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think this ability requires much explanation, it just increases your
base defense by 20%. The reason why this is so high in the list it that it
allows you to decrease Obliteration and Immolation from Penance below 9999,
therefore voiding the need for BHPL or revivals if the arms are kept in check.
See the Penance ultimate armor for more info.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.7 Break HP Limit (BHPL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: increases the max HP limit from 9999 to 99999.
- Drop source: Dark Aeons, Nemesis and Omega Weapon.
- Customized: 30x Wings to Discovery
x 2x: normal drop from Shinryu.
x 2x: bribe Malboro (Calm Lands) for 270k.
o 30x: win the Remiem Race with 3 chests and no poles.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FFX's BHPL is perhaps the most discussed armor ability in any FF ever. At first
glance, BHPL seems mandatory to increase the HP limit because of the enormous
boosts in attacks later endgame bosses do. However, if one dives deeper into
the actual numbers and mechanics it becomes clear that no single encounter in
the game >requires< BHPL. Originally I presented it in this guide and then
thrashed BHPL as completely unnecessary.
The above does not rightfully claim BHPL is useless, however. All endgame
encounters can be tackled with BHPL and a great majority actually becomes more
trivial because you don't have to wait for Auto-Phoenix and Auto-Potion
animations or plan your fight completely. If you are planning to max out, you
might as well get BHPL armors.
Granted, there are a few encounters that are actually more difficult because
of the additional HP (Dark Anima as a clear exampkle), these fights can still
be tackled with non-BHPL armors instead.
Mind that with BHPL, Auto-Phoenix and Auto-Potion are severely undervalued as
they can heal only max 9999.
NOTE: if you max out all stats your max HP is around 67000, however, there is
no need to cap out Accuracy and Evasion if you cap out Luck, or the other way
around. This gives you enough space to max HP at 99999.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.8 Auto-Regen (BHPL)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: automatically applies Regen: heals some upon turn.
- Drop source: Dark Valefor.
- Customized: 80x Healing Spring
x 40x: normal drop from Kottos.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Auto-Regen is an armor ability that still gets mixed responses from regulars
playing the game. Some BHPL users swear with Auto-Regen, others, usually
players that prefer to not use BHPL at all find this a very lackluster ability.
Both sides of the argument are right, to some extend. Regen is really great
with BHPL, but is still considerably weak.
The idea of using Auto-Regen with BHPL is that it greatly reduces the amount
of times you have to manually heal, given that you need a Mix to get yourself
back up to 99999HP. Regen's formula contains a fixed value, the ticks since the
last turn and a Max HP factor. Thus, with Haste and a full health pool Regen
actually heals significantly up till the point the enemy gets the turn again.
Even if your HP drops with Regen active it still requires the enemy to get
the difference between their damage done and Regen's healing to 99999 (which
assumes you do not manually heal yourself) to get a character KO'd, and that in
itself requires a few turns for most bosses.
In short, Auto-Regen's synergy with BHPL allows you to continue on the
offensive longer than any other armor ability that could be added with BHPL. On
non-BHPL armors, Auto-Regen does not keep up with the incoming damage.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.0 Remaining unique armor abilities
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For completion sake this section describes all the remaining unique armor
abilities and why they are no part of the ultimate armors. The last section
explains abilities that are obsolete.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 Auto-Shell
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: automatically applies Shell: halves magical damage.
- Drop source: Dark Sandy.
- Customize: 70x Lunar Curtain
x 4x: normal steal from Jumbo Flan or Juggernaut.
o 99x: unlock Abaddon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhat overrated ability that in theory seems to be as strong as Auto-Protect
but there is a major catch. Magical attacks in the endgame are quite rare; from
what does exist only few comes close or break 9999 damage without Shell, hence
making Shell mostly unused. For the fights where it does help, Shell can be
cast manually if really required. To clarify, Auto-Shell is not bad, there are
just better options.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.2 No Encounters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: negates all random encounters, even if not in the battle party.
- Drop source: Geosgaeno (weapon)
- Customize: 30x Purifying Salt
o 99x: unlock Fafnir.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great ability to stroll the battle areas without the constant shattering and
trivial battles. You need just one; Geosgaeno actually drops a weapon with
No Encounters which is a unique piece of equipment as it is originally an armor
ability. Get that instead of customizing an armor.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.3 Master Thief
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: guaranteeds a rare steal if the steal is succesful.
- Drop source: none.
- Customize: 30x Pendulum
o 30x: win the Remiem Race with four chests and no poles.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty crucial to get some rarer items later in the game. As steals are limited
by consecutive chance (the second steal has a 50% chance, the third 25% etc)
you don't really need more than one Master Thief armor; just let the same
character keep stealing until you get the item, twice if you wish, then repeat
the battle.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.4 Magic Def +20%
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: increases max magical defense by 20%.
- Drop source: none relevant.
- Customized: 4x Blessed Gem
x 6x: normal drop from Cactuar King.
x 1x: rare steal from Barbatos, Coeurlregina or One-Eye.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea of using Magic Defense +20% was to reduce some more magical damage
from Nemesis' attacks, but this proved to be unnecessary altogether. If this
were to be useful, Shell has to be cast manually as there is not space for both
Auto-Shell and Magic Def +20%. Alas, it is not.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.5 Auto-Reflect
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: automatically applies Reflect: reflect single target spells.
- Drop source: Geosgaeno.
- Customized: 40x Star Curtain
o 99x: unlock Nega Elemental.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With a different working mechanism than Shell (reflecting instead of reducing),
Reflect has the potential to be stronger than Shell. There is a major flaw
though: only a very select few magical abilities can be reflected in the
endgame. Usually this actually leads to the enemy healing (Dark Aeon elemental
spells etc). If Reflect is useful in a certain battle, Reflect can be cast
manually instead.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.6 Break MP Limit
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: increases the max MP limit from 999 to 9999.
- Drop source: Ultima Buster.
- Customized: 30x Three Stars
o 60x: unlock Earth Eater.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BMPL at most increases your magical load tenfold, whereas One MP Cost does so
up to 90x for the more powerful spells. BMPL is actually obsolete to One
MP Cost altogether, but BMPL is mentioned as One MP Cost is a weapon ability.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.7 Elemental Eaters
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: absorbs elemental damage from the specific Eater equipped.
- Drop source: Jumbo Flan (among other seperate drops).
- Customized: 20x Elemental specific gems, sources vary.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elemental Eaters have always been very popular as they are very useful during
the storyline, especially near the end (S. Omnis for example), however nearly
all endgame abilities are non-magical or elemental neutral. Even if they were
useful, you'd have to make specific armors for each Eater which is a pain
compared to the end result.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.8 Obsolete
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a short list of all armor abilities that were not covered, but are
either obsolete to other abilities or do not work in battle.
- Elemental SOS-Nul/Ward/Proof: obsolete to Eaters.
- Ailment Ward/Proof: obsolete to Ribbon*.
- Auto-Med: obsolete to Ribbon.
- SOS-'buff': obsolete to Auto-'buff'.
- Defense +3%/5%/10%: obsolete to Defense +20%**.
- Magic Def +3%/5%/10%: obsolete to Magic Def +20%**.
- Pickpocket: obsolete to Master Thief.
- HP/MP +5%/10%/20%/30%: obsolete due to stat limit.
- HP/MP Stroll: non-encounter benefit.
*: Curseproof is an exception here; regardless, Curse is not really an issue.
**: these abilities stack, but you'd be sacrificing too much to get multiple.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.0 Ultimate armors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although the combination of four abilities has been described somewhat in the
third section, this section specifically describes why a four-ability
combination works.
NOTE:
If you fully want to customize, 4-slotted-armours can be bought from Wantz in
the beginning of the Macalania Woods for 100k. If he is not there because you
didn't talk to him on Mount Gagazet, Adamantoise and Varuna drop them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.1 Core (Auto-Haste/Auto-Protect/Auto-Phoenix/Auto-Potion)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 'core' ultimate armor consists of the base core Auto-Haste and
Auto-Protect combined with Auto-Phoenix and Auto-Potion. This non-BHPL armor
combination is surprisingly versatile for just random battles in Omega Ruins
and Inside Sin, the entire Monster Arena and even a couple of Dark Aeons.
This armor lacks ailment protection, making it less applicable for more
dangerous Dark Aeons and only barely fails to survive Penance's abilities:
even with Cheer 5x, Immolation and Obliteration can do slightly more than 9999,
meaning you'll be constantly reviving up till a point where either the Arms get
a turn in or Judgement Day hits, both leading to a game over.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.2 Dark Aeons (Auto-Haste/Auto-Protect/Auto-Phoenix/Ribbon)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Dark Aeon ultimate armor takes the status ailment spam of the DAs into
account and replaces Auto-Potion in the core armor with Ribbon. The
consequences of this change is that status ailments are no issue, but you need
to be up to the task to heal yourself occasionally with Healing Waters and to
plan your battles carefully in order to not be cornered by a combination of DA
abilities as you tackle them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.3 Penance (Auto-Haste/Auto-Protect/Defense +20%/Auto-Potion)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Penance non-BHPL armor is completely focused around surviving Obliteration
and Immolation with 9999HP. In order to achieve this, Defense +20% is required.
You can replace Auto-Phoenix with Defense +20%, as no character will actually
die if you can kill the Arms in time and survive everything Penance throws at
you. In fact, it greatly trivializes Penance which might not be the prefered
way for everyone. If you want somewhat of a challenge, use the next.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.4 BHPL (Auto-Haste/Auto-Protect/Break HP Limit/Auto-Regen)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By default, a BHPL armor needs Break HP Limit and the base core abilities
Auto-Haste and Auto-Protect. This leaves just a spot for one ability. This
ability came to the surface by shear deduction: Auto-Phoenix and Auto-Potion
are just inefficient as they can heal 9999 at best. Ribbon is great, but with
a BHPL setup it just doesn't suffice; for more info on that, see the next
section. This left Auto-Regen, which worked surprisingly well with maxed HP.
Unless the party is contested by severe damage (much greater than 10k each
enemy attack), nasty status ailments or Demi effects characters with this
armor and max HP seem like living tanks.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.5 Why Auto-Haste/Auto-Protect/Ribbon/BHPL does not synergize
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On first sight, the combination looks like an 'ultimate' one. However, in
practice this armor has no specific use. This armor has no automatic healing,
which forces you at some point to Mix an Ultra Potion or better, which is not
always available. Eventually you'll be more focused on healing rather than
damage in endgame encounters which makes this armor inefficient. Also, Ribbon
and BHPL simply do not synergize well: fights where lots of HP can make a
difference status ailments aren't the biggest issue whilst the opposite is
true as well.
Besides the non-mandatory use of this armor there is a practical problem too:
getting Ribbon and BHPL on one armor is quite a pain, compared to Auto-Phoenix
or Auto-Regen for the respective counterparts.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.0 Ultimate weapons
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now a small weapons section. Besides the magic weapons, no other weapon can
actually beat the Celestials.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.1 Celestials
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Celestial weapons ignore Defense and are superior to anything by a landslide.
Each Celestial has Break Damage Limit and Triple Overdrive which are arguably
the best two weapon abilities available for physical based characters. Each
Celestial has their own strenghts for third and fourth ability which is
actually pretty interesting. Celestial strength is based on the HP ratio for
Tidus, Wakka, Kimahri and Rikku, reverse HP ratio for Auron and MP ratio for
Yuna and Lulu.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.2 Magic weapons
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lulu and Yuna's Celestials are based on their max MP and Osmose abilities can
greatly drain MP (Dark Anima for example). There is no actual need for seven
characters to be focused around physical damage, so for Yuna and Lulu you can
make customized weapons tailed towards using magic.
Break Damage Limit:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ability facts:
- Effect: increase the damage limit from 9999 to 99999.
- Drop source: Nemesis.
- Customized: 60x Dark Matter
x 2x: rare drop from Monster Arena creations.
o 99x: unlock Ultima Buster
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I guess it makes sense to have BDL on any customized endgame weapon. I'd
suggest to farm BDL drops and customize the other three abilities, so that you
can keep your Dark Matters for Ribbon.
Magic Booster:
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Ability facts:
- Effect: doubles spell cost to make the spells more powerful.
- Drop source: Jumbo Flan and Dark Mindy.
- Customized: 30x Turbo Ether
o 60x: unlock Bomb King.
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There is absolutely no reason to not have this ability. In combination with One
MP Cost (see below) every spell costs 2MP for double the damage.
One MP Cost:
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Ability facts:
- Effect: reduce the MP cost of every spell to 1.
- Drop source: Greater Sphere, Dark Bahamut, Dark Mindy and Dark Anima.
- Customized: 20x Three Stars
o 60x: unlock Earth Eater.
o 60x: win the Remiem Race with 5 chests and no poles.
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If you are intending to massfire Flares and Ultimas, which I guess you want
with magic weapons, One MP Cost is mandatory. One MP Cost greatly surpasses
BMPL on spell load as it also reduces the MP cost of a doublecasted spell.
A doublecasted boosted spell costs 4MP but does an insane amount of damage.
Magic +20%:
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Ability facts:
- Usage: increase your magic by 20%.
- Drop source: none.
- Customized: 4x Supreme Gem
o 60x: unlock Greater Sphere.
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With the lack of anything else useful, lets boost the damage by 20%. For what
it's worth, this works with Demi as well, which is great for capturing higher
HP enemies.
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6.3 Capture weapons
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At first, I had only Stone & Deathstrike here. However, Theoden convinced me
that overkills can help you early on, by boosting Aeon's abilities & attributes
(Ability Spheres have no attribute, so every Aeon can easily learn Scan
(& Extract Ability, if you're planning on maxing them).
These I consider the best abilities on a capture weapon:
1) First Strike. A must when capturing in Inside Sin or the Omega Ruins.
2) Initiative. Just to prevent the battle from taking longer.
3) Gillionaire. It adds up throughout your capturing streak.
4) Evade & Counter. No regular attacks will hit you.
5) Stone/Deathstrike. For Omega Ruins or Inside Sin. You won't Overkill most
fiends in those areas with 9999, so shattering or killing them doesn't
matter then actually.
I'd go with the first three by default. If you want an instant-kill in your
party, you'd probably want to drop Initiative (or Gillionaire to be on the
safe side): First Strike can still save you from ambushing Malboros. E&C is a
bit the odd one out and is mostly great capturing midway the game where the Gil
dropped is quite insignificant, so Gillionaire can be replaced by E&C for
quicker capturing.
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7.0 Credits
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I hope this guide was and is useful to you.
This was TheaN (and many others), I'll be seeing you around!
- I thank Squaresoft for creating the game.
- I thank SCEE for publishing it in Europe.
- I thank Theoden for the Break HP Limit discussion.
- This guide is a creation of the whole messageboard. See 1.4 for the list of
users that helped me write this guide up.
- pjtierney2003 for putting up a mini version on the MB.
- I thank GameFAQs for posting.
If there are any questions, improvements, additional info or info I forgot,
get in this list my mailing me at:
[email protected]
Yours truly,
Arno "TheaN" Middelkoop
Copyright 2005-2016 Arno Middelkoop
