Hades: Boss and Shopkeep

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:

• Shadow-absorbing/nulling equipment (Egoist's Armlet, Demon's Mail, Ninja Gear, Pumice Piece)
• Clear Headed
• Antibody
• Body Temp

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: Reflect Ring Slot 2: Running Shoes Slot 3: Battle Boots Slot 4: Robe Of Lords			Slot 1: Wing Edge Slot 2: Elixir Slot 3: Elixir Slot 4: Elixir			Holy
	Elemental Absorb					Elemental Immunities
	Elemental Resistence					Elemental Weakness
	None
	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 Robe Of Lords! That's all you really need, unless you haven't learned Auto-Haste on everyone, in which case the Running 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 Ragnarok'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 Elixir, 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 Pumice.

Here's the entire shop:

Hades' Synthesis
Opal	100 + Ore + Potion
Peridot	100 + Ore + Soft
Topaz	100 + Ore + Eye Drops
Amethyst	200 + Ore + Annoyntment
Sapphire	200 + Ore + Antidote
Phoenix Pinion	300 + Phoenix Down + Gysahl Greens
Garnet	350 + Ore + Remedy
Lapis Lazuli	400 + Ore + Dead Pepper
Ether	500 + Echo Screen + Vaccine
Pumice Piece	25000 + Pumice + Hammer
Robe Of Lords	30000 + White Robe + Black Robe
Protect Ring	40000 + Dark Matter + Rebirth Ring
Pumice	50000 + Pumice Piece + Pumice Piece
Save The Queen	50000 + Javelin + Silver Gloves
Tin Armor	50000 + Hammer + Ore

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