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Final Fantasy IX Walkthrough

Written by  Shotgunnova
Contributor

3.6: Back in the Saddle Again

Treasures: δElixir, δVirgo, δBlack Belt, 2000 Gil, 843 Gil

The Village is full of still waters, now; check out Mr. 288 at the cemetery and go to the chocobarn. Apparently, Kuja's secret palace is on the eastern rim of the continent, but that's all he knows. No shops here either, but you can still collect items if you didn't get them last time:

Item
Location
In the Inn's bedroom
Item Shop's upper loft
2000 Gil
Chest in the Synth Shop
By the Weapon Shop exterior
843 Gil
Climb to the Synth Shop roof and follow the walkway to the chest

On the Outer Continent's eastern desert, there are four sandpits. Notice that three of them have sand rising out of them, because they're actually Antlion (2) trap battles; the other one is the entrance to the palace. This is the point of no return for quite a long time. Get prepared before wading in!

Note: The δMythril Sword won't be available after taking the plunge, so if you are one of those people that just has to have every skill, go get it in Esto Gaza, on the upper-left continent.

After a few events, Kuja captures everyone and makes Zidane choose a party to take with him on a "fetch quest" expedition to Oeilvert. This location will have a magic barrier, so Kuja doesn't want to go himself. If you read between the lines, you won't choose a magic-heavy party - any magic command (Black, White, Blue) will be greyed-out and unselectable! So, you will want to balance the parties. So, I suggest sending Zidane, Dagger, Freya, Vivi. Here's why:
  • Dagger still cannot concentrate and is a liability in the palace. She won't be a main magic-caster, anyway, at the destination.
  • Freya's ultimate weapon is obtainable coming up, provided you've been doing the Chocobo Hot & Cold minigame.
  • Vivi balances out the two mage/fighter party, and can be an item-user at the destination.
  • Eiko's the best white mage and better serves the party at the Palace.
  • Amarant is a powerhouse and has Chakra, which helps keep the MP in order.
  • Quina's LV5 Death can slay every enemy in the palace - it's a no-brainer.
  • Steiner can also be a powerhouse without Vivi's magic, and Darkside helps.
You can get by with switching fighters around, I suppose, but the party at the palace will need the most help - keep that in mind.

When finished, have Zidane run to the hangar (Ogre, Grimlock (Red Face) and Grimlock (Blue Face) are around) and board the Hilde Garde 1. This luxury airship will take everyone on a cruise to the Forgotten Continent, which is the western one that has no beaches. Zorn and Thorn will sell items if you need it, too - just talk with them at the airship landing site.

Optional: Qu's Marsh #4

Unless you brought Quina with, which you shouldn't have, this is kinda dumb and not worthwhile. But marshes have frogs, and you might want to catch them to build up Frog Drop, so here's an option. More

Optional: Blue Magic Update

Also not terribly handy if, as recommended, you didn't bring Quina. Or if you got it last chapter when listed. But all the same:
Enemy to Eat
Blue Magic Learned
More


The northern tip, past the Qu's Marsh, has chocobo tracks, which you will no doubt prefer to the monster-ridden canyons. If you have a mountain chocobo, there are a bunch of things you can do, see below. Anyway, to find Oeilvert (which you can find marked on the map, too), head south through Seaways Canyon. On the world map, this area is denoted by the pale, yellow/orange-colored region amidst the brown. Follow south until the route curls into a dead-end, which is the destination. Again, very easy to find with a chocobo.

Optional: Chocographs Update

Two more for you, Forgotten and Dusk Plains. More

Optional: Freya's Ultimate Weapon

Freya's ultimate weapon can be dug up with a mountain chocobo, in a half-hidden crack near Oeilvert. Check the world map and look at the Forgotten Continent. The black spots stand for forested areas; there is only one of those blotches on the western part of the continent, northwest of Oeilvert's location. On the second layer, look for a big black line (face southeast) on the cliffside. Crack it open with a δDead Pepper and you will get δMaiden Prayer and a δDragon's Hair lance! There's a δGauntlets and ♥Odin up in there, too! With this spear, Freya should be doing 2000+ damage. Awesome! More

Optional: Cracks in the Mountain

In the same vein as the above weapon-finding quest, on the eastern coast of this continent, north of Oeilvert and even the eastern chocobo tracks, there is a small enclosed area with a tiny forest. Next to that forest is another crack that can be opened with a δDead Pepper: 19 δEye Drops, one δMadain's Ring, a δGenji Helmet, and a ♥Hilda Garde 1 Card! More

Optional: Friendly Creatures Sidequest

A Jabberwock (Friendly) appears in Seaways Canyon, wanting an δEmerald for some reason. Throw one its way and it will hand over 40 AP and a δMoonstone! Just make sure to look for it in a forest - it only appears there! More


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

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