FFIX Excalibur II Perfect Game (Version X) - 27 Iifa, The Ancient Tree of Life
8This is by far the most difficult part of the Excalibur II Perfect Game challenge, so be prepared to be very patient here! Thankfully there is a new, improved and nearly fail-safe method of getting through this part without too much trouble!!!
Items: Ruby, Hi-Potion, Healing Rod, Phoenix Down, Ether, Remedy, Lamia's Flute, Elixir, Brigandine
The audio quality of the first part of the video is ruffled due to the fact that it was recorded at the very beginning of the tape and it was my very first attempt!!!
Setups after getting the Ruby, but before the decent into the heart of terror:
Zidane - Dagger, Ritual Hat, Mythril Armlet, Survival Vest, Sapphire
(Protect Girls, High Tide, Auto-Potion
Dagger - Mythril Rod, Lamia's Tiara, Magic Armlet, Magician Robe, Madain's Ring
Vivi - Ice Staff, Headgear, --- , --- , --- (Auto-Potion)
Eiko - Multina Racket, --- , --- , Silk Shirt, Ruby
Make sure everyone is in the back row.
With the setups above, Dagger can survive a Zombie Breath attack provided she is protected by Shell. Eiko and Dagger can cast Shell once either turn comes up. Normally, zombies lose HP if they are cured in any way. However, HP absorption due to an elemental attack takes priority over zombie effects! With Protect Girls active, Zidane will take the hit for Dagger or Eiko, and if Zidane survives the attack, he gets a trance boost and is fully healed. The only attacks that Zidane can survive are Zombie's Strike and in a rare occurence, Stroper's Slap attack. Stoper's Sweep attack or Dagger knocked out while zombified is an instant reset!
While on the way to the bottom you must encounter a Dracozombie first. Have someone throw a Tent. Once the Dracozombie is hindered, cast Shell on Dagger. Have Zidane steal if Vivi is not ready to cast Blizzara on the entire party! Then hope for Zombie Breath and not Strike! Once Dagger is zombified, cast Life on the Dracozombie to end the battle and gain some gil in the process!
After getting phase one complete, remove Zidane's Mythril Armlet to decrease the chance of attacks missing when he covers for Dagger or Eiko, give Dagger the Mythril Vest and Coral Ring, and Equip Vivi with the Oak Staff, Magician Robe and Peridot. Revive Vivi to full health before the forced battles.
During the forced Zombie battle, once a Zombie takes its turn, use an Elixir on it to vanquish it, so you don't lose track of which ones have already acted. After all the enemies have ATB gauges too, though you can't see them. Zombies tend to use Melt or Roulette as early as their 2nd attack but almost likely on their 3rd, so don't mess around here. There are plenty of trance building opportunities later. Before killing the last Zombie, let it attack and hope it does not use Melt or Roulette. Have Vivi cast Thundara on the whole party, which will spare Dagger and have her throw an Elixir to win the battle.
Before talking to Vivi, revive Eiko and Vivi, but leave Zidane knocked out, so he cannot be targeted by Zombie Breath. Then talk to Vivi.
One last forced battle, a lone Dracozombie. Simply wait for it's attack (unless it is a pre-emptive strike). As long as Dagger is unharmed, you're good. Just have Vivi and Eiko knock themselves out and have Dagger throw an Elixir! In case Dagger is knocked out, you can still win by stopping the zombie!
Don't rejoice once you reach the bottom just yet, you have one obstacle left. But first, pick up the Elixir and Brigadine, then enter the menu.
Set Zidane up for Lucky Seven by removing all equipment and give him the Black Belt ONLY and activate HP+20%. Have Dagger cast Life on Zidane, which revives him at 37HP! Then give him the Mythril Dagger, Ritual Hat, Mythril Armlet, Brigandine, and Reflect Ring. Activate Ability Up. Give Dagger the Silk Robe and Madain's Ring, then activate Ability Up for her as well. Cure Dagger's zombie status with the Magic Tag you got from the Mountain Path and revive Vivi and Eiko!
When it comes to Soul Cage, the highest priority is to kill it with an Elixir and get the F#(K out of the Iifa Tree. The only thing that can prevent that is the luck of the starting ATB gauges. Also my colleague, camdad04 has mentioned that Soul Cage can start with an attack that can kill the entire party before you can kill it. In my experience that has not happened to me, as when it attacked, had always used LV5 Death, which does nothing to your LV1 party, but it does add about 20 seconds to your time. If you do survive a turn, go ahead and try to steal something.
Before returning to Madain Sari, move Zidane to the front row and give him the Exploda and Power Belt, and activate Man Eater, MP Attack, Distract. (Ability Up should still be on) and leave his HP alone!!!
Target Time - 6:05:18
Gil - 194,000
Encounters - The guide says 5 but IMO, as many as it takes!
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