Final Fantasy VI Bosses

Earth Dragon was once not so terrifying. That was before he got his two feet firmly planted on the ground. Disregarding its own menacing looks, it was a floating monster that you could gently put to sleep and wash away like so much mud on your jeans. Having been pushed around one time too many (this being one), Earth Dragon (Redux) pulled a Batman and swore to avenge his previous weakness by training his body to perfection and getting real good at science. Except for the science.

Earth Dragon (Redux), knowing full well that the element he got stuck with is the only one both vulnerable to elemental protection and generally avoided with an easily applied status - Float - has taken his own weaknesses into account. Earth Dragon (Redux) has enough physical strength to have an army of Greater Mantii soil themselves. Normally it'll just attack physically and with the occasional supremely powerful Earth-elemental attack. Quake is the nastiest; not only is it barrier-piercing and easily the most powerful one, it will also hit Earth Dragon (Redux), healing it for an average of 4400 damage. Obviously, there's an Attack omni-counter.

Whenever Earth Dragon (Redux) detects the Float status, he'll forego his normal AI script in favor of a combo attack of 50 Gs, Magnitude 8 and a Quake spell. This means that if you have even one character with unremovable Float due to Angel Wings or a Float-inducing Rage, this is all you'll see for the first part of the fight. Note that there are no physical attacks here except for the counterattack, so if you have a single permanent Floater, Gaia Gear will be more than sufficient. This is a life-saver if you find yourself, against my recommendations, without enough Angel Wings.

When Earth Dragon (Redux) hits 25600 HP, he'll get enraged. This means that your life is over. Nah, just kidding. He will drop his Earth-elemental attacks, as they obviously didn't succeed in killing you. Enraged, the Earth Dragon (Redux) unleashes a physical barrage unlike any other in the game. He'll start by four Attacks after the initial message, then start his new AI script. It's four Attacks in a row, then four physical attacks of which the last one has a 2/3 chance of being the !Savage special, and two !Savage attacks every third turn. He'll counter any damage done with either attack or !Savage. If you're not outright immune to physical attacks, this will kill you.

Here's the thing. With Angel Wings or Float-inducing Rages, you'll need to stick him in his 50 Gs loop, where you'll just have to deal with Earth-elemental attacks which are easily dealt with Gaia Gear and Angel Wings. An alternate strategy is using the Maginot Line paired with Gaia Gear to survive the first part of the fight. Now, unleash the damage until he gets mad at you for it. Now, quickly cast Vanish on the survivors of the first round of attacks. If you manage to turn even a single character Invisible, you've won the fight as it's just dealing damage from this point on.

As far as damage is concerned, Earth Dragon (Redux) is weak to Water- and Wind- elemental attacks. The introduction of the Flood spell makes life a lot easier for the spellcasters of your team, while Strago's Aero is stronger than his Grand Delta attack versus this foe. Any Float-inducing Rage will make a 255 Defense Gau unbeatable in this fight, but Marchosias has the best offense in Aero, which is also a tip for Gogo if he lacks Angel Wings. If you're having trouble beating the initial healing of Earth Dragon (Redux), you can cast Esuna on him so Quake will no longer heal him. In addition, it will be a painful reminder to him that once a floating sissy, always a floating sissy. Expand Full Strategy

This hulking brute will just attack physically two times every turn, and will counter any attack you use against it with !Megaton Punch, which kills anything it touches. If you cast Vanish, you can avoid its effects easily enough. Stop also works against it. If you Sketch Earth Eater, it may have a 25% chance of instantly killing it with its own attack. Expand Full Strategy