samonasuke
07-20-2007, 12:05 AM
Does anyone have any advice about how i should prepare for the zodiark fight. For example what levels should i be and what gear should I have etc.

Neg
07-20-2007, 12:31 AM
If you search the XII forum, you'll find a thread called 'Zodiark got his ass kicked.' I'm pretty sure that one has some tips. Here's what I remember from that thread:

Equip everyone with Black Masks to cut the damage from Darkja
Start the fight with one person, since Darkja can randomly kill any of your characters.

samonasuke
07-20-2007, 01:11 AM
thanks, will keep that in mind

Scryer
07-20-2007, 03:54 AM
Also, when your attacks start to do nothing to him, cast reflect/reflectga and reflect Scathe on him. Some people might disagree with me on this but even though it hits your own characters, it causes loads of damage to Zodiark. If you've leveled enough or have good armour and shit equipped, this shouldn't be a problem.

Fatalis Prime
07-20-2007, 06:04 AM
I was really, really woried about the Zodiark fight, but when I beat him I remember thinking "that's it?". I had a bigger problem getting to him than I did beating him. Although I guess I had already defeated Yiazmat, heh.

As mentioned above, black masks or demon shields are a must so you absorb his Darkja. Even then, Darkja can still cause instant death, so don't let your guard down. Zodiark will use Darkja right off the bat when the fight starts, so that's why people are recommending to go in with just one poor schmuck from your reserve party. Although I personally didn't do it, Reflecting Scathe off your own party as Scryer suggests is a brilliant idea. Do that.

samonasuke
07-20-2007, 10:17 AM
thanks peeps, do you think i should do ultima before or go straight for zodiark

Fatalis Prime
07-20-2007, 09:48 PM
Ultima is at a lower level than Zodiark, but she's way more adaptable. Whether she's tougher or not depends mostly on how you play. Be prepared for absolutely anything and bring lots of remedies and x-potions (she can and will nullify your magic). Gambits are a mess during Ultima if your'e not familiar with how she behaves. The most important thing is to have white masks or sage's rings on everyone so they absorb Holyja. But, yet again, Holyja can still cause reverse even if you absorb it. Make your top gambit ally status = reverse > attack.

Personally, while I really like Ultima as an esper, Ultima and Omega Mk. XII are always the very last thing I do before clearing the game. Namely because I !@#$ing HATE the Great Crystal. The monsters there aren't as bad as those in the Henne Mines though. Those are sick.

samonasuke
07-20-2007, 11:31 PM
THere pretty sick allright, but their well worth it for the experience, would u consider gettin to zodiarc harder or fightin zodiarc harder

Scryer
07-21-2007, 12:45 AM
Ultima is at a lower level than Zodiark, but she's way more adaptable. Whether she's tougher or not depends mostly on how you play. Be prepared for absolutely anything and bring lots of remedies and x-potions (she can and will nullify your magic). Gambits are a mess during Ultima if your'e not familiar with how she behaves. The most important thing is to have white masks or sage's rings on everyone so they absorb Holyja. But, yet again, Holyja can still cause reverse even if you absorb it. Make your top gambit ally status = reverse > attack.

Personally, while I really like Ultima as an esper, Ultima and Omega Mk. XII are always the very last thing I do before clearing the game. Namely because I !@#$ing HATE the Great Crystal. The monsters there aren't as bad as those in the Henne Mines though. Those are sick.

Another thing to add, you should try to pick a magic field (I recommend the technique one) to go 'all-out' on her while you use the other 3 fields to heal and survive. I found Ultima much harder than Zodiark but that was because I get impatient with boss battles. It's a longer battle so be ready. Umm, the Mega-Potions/Mega-Elixirs can come in handy for emergencies so if you've saved them up, give yourself a pat on the back. Just don't use any ethers or elixirs when she has the Drain MP or No Magick fields up.

And when she brings up the Drain MP field, immeadietly start a quickening chain and heal with items. I also suggest getting magick that deals non-elemental damage or/and Darkga as she's pretty strong against elemental damage (save for dark, she's weak against that). Here, I'll give you a handy-dandy walkthrough link (if you want to use a walk-through):

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/459841/46240

After going to this link hit "Ctrl+F" (by the way, incase you didn't know, you CAN use this key combination to search up anything in any walk-through. This key-combination has saved me LOADS of time) and type in "Ultima". This link will give you a great strategy for her as well as give you an idea as to how you should set up your gambits. Enjoy.

Like Fatalis mentioned, The Great Crystal is a big pain in the ass. The only thing I enjoyed it for, was the well-suited music. I did something very stupid once and got 2 Moon Rings there. It took a good hour and half of my sanity. Never again, will I think of that horrible place. So when you grab Ultima, it's a great idea to get Omega as well. Unless you like the Great Crystal....

Fatalis Prime
07-21-2007, 02:48 AM
THere pretty sick allright, but their well worth it for the experience, would u consider gettin to zodiarc harder or fightin zodiarc harder

Getting to him, definitely. Unlike most boss battles, there's no crystal before Zodiark's lair. That's right, if anything happens you go back to the Henne gate crystal. A lv. 99 party can still get easily raped by hecteyes and abysteels. Traps galore, and your map of the place is... old, apparently. Many of the recently-excavated passages don't appear on your map. However, everything doesn't look identical, so it's still better than Giruvegan.

samonasuke
07-21-2007, 10:48 AM
The hecteyes are the biggest pain in there, there status effects are enough to drve you mad!!!! Ah well, wish me luck, im goin for him today