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Hades: Boss and Shopkeep

Guide by  Shotgunnova
Contributor
Edited by  Rangers51
CoN Webmaster

The master synthesist you may have heard about is actually this optional boss that can be encountered only the fourth disc. In Memoria's ocean room, which is just past the second save point, search behind the right-hand rock formation to find it. There is no field icon to tell you it's there, so just mash the "talk" button to find it. If you talk to it enough, you'll get the chance to fight, but, before you do, be ready with:

Hades
Hades
Boss Monster
Can't Flee
Type
Level
HP
MP
Gil
Exp
Attack
Magic Atk.
Flying, Demon
92
65535
9999
9638
65535
115
30
Evasion
Defense
Mag. Def.
Mag. Evade
Speed
Strength
Spirit
Eaten Magic
9
27
10
11
50
30
55
None
Stolen Items
Dropped Items
Dropped Card
Slot 1: δWing Edge
Slot 2: δElixir
Slot 3: δElixir
Slot 4: δElixir
♥Holy
Elemental Absorb
Elemental Immunities
Shadow
Earth
Elemental Resistence
Elemental Weakness
None
Holy
Status Immunity
Petrify, Venom, Virus, Silence, Blind, Trouble, Zombie, Confuse, Berserk, Stop, Auto-Life, Trance, Defend, Poison, Sleep, Regen, Float, Heat, Freeze, Vanish, Doom, Mini, Gradual Petrify
  

Going all out here is crucial in all manners, because Hades' Doomsday will hit allies and heal Hades, too. This is why you must equip everyone as described above, to at the very least nullify the damage and not get hammered while he heals up. Luckily, when he's powering his sword, he's not in attack mode, so that's when you should heal up and strike the hardest. Shock + No Mercy + Holy is a great combo to knock down his HP, so this isn't the most difficult fray you'll jump into. Here's a good way to divide the labor, since this battle can be incredibly annoying if you get off on the wrong foot:

  • Zidane: steal that δRobe Of Lords! That's all you really need, unless you haven't learned Auto-Haste on everyone, in which case the δRunning Shoes can be good.
  • Steiner: Uh, use Shock or the most powerful sword skill he has. Don't both with Minus Strike. If you're not using Vivi, you can get access to Slow using the δRagnarok's regular attack.
  • Amarant: Aura, Aura, Aura! Use No Mercy once everyone's covered, and have him on semi-standby to use a Power Up'd Chakra or an δElixir, if Hades uses Judgement Sword.
  • Eiko: Curaga-all after Cleave, and remember that both Madeen and Holy play on Hades' weakness. Boost their damage with holy-enhancing equipment for better effect! Full-Life will also help, as will Haste. For those who get hit with Mini, just reverse it with her version.
  • Quina: Angel's Snack will remove all statuses, so if you protect him/her against the worst of Curse, this is a godsend to protect the rest of the party. Unless you've powered up Frog Drop to maximum damage status, Quina's not imperative.
  • Freya: Jump is alright here, but a maximum-damage Dragon's Crest is the real pull for her... if you have it.
  • Dagger: She's just like Eiko but with less white mage abilities and no holy spells. I don't recommend her for this fight.
  • Vivi: You can give him Auto-Reflect and bounce Flare spells off him onto Hades for more damage. This reduces the healing options on him if you're using magic, though; it's fine if you've got Amarant watching his back.

After Hades has died, he'll open his shop for you, which is the only place to learn Dagger's final eidolon Ark from a δPumice.

Here's the entire shop:

Note: If you make the δTin Armor, you can't witness a special scene during the ending, which requires the δHammer in the inventory. Learn more about the δHammer's role at the Stellazzio page.

Caves of Narshe: Final Fantasy IX
Version 6
©1997–2024 Josh Alvies (Rangers51)

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