Final Fantasy XIII – Complete Walkthrough (Step by Step Guide) – Part 02

January 17, 2024 Off By Miguel Montenegro

<< PART 01

Chapter VII

1. Controlling Lightning and Hope in Pampolum

Initial Fights and Crystarium : The initial fights against the PSICOM soldiers are manageable. Use the CP accumulated by Sazh and Vanille to strengthen Lightning and Hope in the Crystarium.
Item Collection : Explore the area to find 2 or 3 capsules with useful items before entering the cave.

2. Facing Enemies in the Cave

Flanitor and Lucidon : Flanitor, despite his strong physical attacks, is vulnerable in Stagger Mode. Lucidon requires robust defensive tactics (Protect and Shell buffs) and a focus on getting him into Stagger Mode to overcome his resistance.

3. Meeting with Snow and Battle with Shiva

Point Distribution in Snow and Hope’s Crystarium : Upgrade Snow’s Commando and Sentinel skills and focus on Ravager for Hope.

4. Combat Strategy for Snow and Hope

Recommended Paradigms : SEN/MED, SEN/SYN, SEN/RAV, COM/RAV, RAV/RAV, and COM/MED. Pay special attention to using Snow Sentinel for protection.

5. Challenge with PSICOM Warlord and Other Enemies

PSICOM Warlord (22680 HP) : Prioritize defeating smaller enemies before facing him. Utilize Protect and Shell buffs to mitigate his heavy attacks.

6. Fang and Light – A Dynamic Duo

Crystarium Enhancement : Focus on enhancing Fang’s COM and WIS skills, taking advantage of his physical strength.
Paradigms for Fang and Light : Experiment with combinations such as COM/COM, COM/RAV, COM/MED, SEN/MED, SEN/COM, and SEN/RAV, adjusting as needed.

7. Showdowns and Item Collection with Snow and Hope

Falco Velocycle and PSICOM Aerial Sniper : Prepare for enemies with strong and fast attacks. Use defensive tactics and focus on debuffs to minimize damage.
New Weapons : Evaluate Paladin for Snow and Vidofnir for Hope, based on needs and combat style.

8. Boss: Ushumgal Subjugator

First Battle (126000 HP) : Deploy Protect, Shell and, if available, Barfire to reduce the impact of fire attacks. Keep Snow in Sentinel and Hope in SYN or MED as needed.
Facing with Fang and Light : After acquiring Gae Bolg and Axis Blade, prepare for simpler enemies, with the exception of the Lodestar Behemoth, which can be avoided due to the low CP offered by victory.
Second Battle Against Ushumgal Subjugator : Now with 378000 HP, the battle begins with Hope alone, progressing to a trio confrontation. Use balanced paradigms for attack and defense, taking advantage of the arrival of Fang and Light.

9. Exploration and Combat in Hope’s House

Gil Generation : Take the opportunity to earn Gil by defeating enemies that drop Credit Chip and Incentive Chip.
Facing Minor Enemies : Although they are minor challenges, maintain a solid strategy to overcome them efficiently.

10. Final Boss: Havoc Skytank

Strategy and Paradigms : Adapt your paradigms to face the five parts of Havoc Skytank. Start by destroying the Turrets and Hulls before focusing on the central body.
Using Librascope : Use Librascope to obtain information from multiple parts of the enemy, facilitating attack strategy.
Final Confrontation Phase : Focus on maintaining buffs and debuffs while attacking the remaining parts of the Skytank. Use the Aggression paradigm when the Skytank is in Stagger Mode to maximize damage.

Final Considerations and Tips for Chapter VII

Strategic Adaptation : Be flexible with your strategies and paradigms, adapting to different combat situations.
Efficient Crystarium Management : Use CPs strategically to improve each character’s most relevant skills.
Boss Battle Preparation : Before facing the bosses, review your strategies and equipment to ensure you are well prepared for the challenges ahead.
Efficient Use of Paradigms : The right choice of paradigms is crucial to maintaining a balance between attack, defense and healing, especially in confrontations with strong enemies like the PSICOM Warlord and the Ushumgal Subjugator.
Exploration and Resource Collection : Don’t forget to fully explore each area to collect all the valuable items and capsules, which can offer significant advantages on your journey.
Watch out for Stagger Mode : Focus on putting tough enemies in Stagger Mode to maximize damage and make battles easier.
Adapting to Party Changes : Be prepared to adapt your strategies as different characters enter and leave your party, making the most of each person’s unique abilities.
Preparation for Prolonged Battles : In longer confrontations, such as the fight against Havoc Skytank, carefully manage your team’s health and keep buffs and debuffs applied consistently.

Chapter VIII

1. Character Development in Crystarium

Sazh : Focus on developing the Synergist (SYN) role until you acquire the Haste skill, crucial for increasing ATB speed. After that, direct the CPs to improve Commando (COM) or Ravager (RAV) skills, depending on your preference.
Vanille : Prioritize important skills in Saboteur (SAB) and Medic (MED). After gaining key skills, focus on developing the Ravager (RAV) role to expand your arsenal of magical techniques.

2. Search for the Chocobo and Collect Items

Chocobo Play : Follow the little Chocobo in his game of hide and seek, passing by the sheep, cart, fountain and, finally, finding him among the chocobos.
Item Collection : Throughout this quest, collect valuable items such as Star Pendant, Spica Defenders (weapon for Sazh), Guardian Amulet and Healer’s Staff (weapon for Vanille).

3. Paradigm and Combat Strategy

Tide & Turner Paradigm : Keep this paradigm as primary against strong enemies or those in large numbers. Use it to apply Haste, Faith, Vigilance, and Bravery with Sazh, while Vanille weakens enemies with debuffs.

4. Facing the Boss Midlight Reaper (100800 HP)

Combat Tactics : Use the Tide & Turner paradigm to buff Sazh and debuff the enemy with Vanille. If Sazh has the Enfrost ability, apply it to increase the effectiveness of attacks against the Midlight Reaper.
General Strategy : Despite the boss’s high HP, he is not particularly strong. Focus on maintaining buffs and debuffs while increasing chain gauge.

5. Battle against Sazh’s Eidolon: Brynhildr

Increasing Gestalt Gauge : Strengthen allies using SYN and attack skills to increase chain gauge.
Beware of Chain Attacks : Be aware of Sazh’s health, as Eidolon’s consecutive attacks can be lethal if his HP is low.
Capture Strategy : Combine Sazh’s buffs with effective attacks to quickly fill the Gestalt Gauge and capture Brynhildr.

6. Crystarium Expansion and Sazh’s ATB

After conquering Brynhildr, Sazh will gain an additional segment of ATB, better

significantly improve its combat effectiveness. Take this opportunity to review and adjust your strategies and paradigms, incorporating the new skills acquired.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter VIII

Effective CP Management in Crystarium : Prioritize skills that will provide a significant advantage in combat, such as Haste for Sazh and debuff skills for Vanille.
Strategic Use of Paradigms : Switch between paradigms dynamically, adapting to the circumstances of combat. Use Tide & Turner to apply buffs and debuffs, balancing with offensive paradigms to maximize damage.
Facing Bosses and Eidolons : Prepare for each boss battle by adjusting your paradigms and strategies based on the enemy’s abilities. In the battle against Brynhildr, focus on using Sazh’s SYN abilities and increasing the chain gauge to capture the Eidolon.
Exploration and Item Collection : During the search for the Chocobo and throughout the chapter, be sure to collect all valuable items and equipment, which can provide significant advantages.
Adapting to Changes in Combat : Be prepared to adapt your strategies as new abilities and challenges arise. The ability to quickly change tactics is crucial to success in Final Fantasy XIII.
Preparation for Prolonged Battles : Carefully manage your team’s health, especially in longer confrontations against strong enemies like the Midlight Reaper and Brynhildr.

Chapter IX

1. Start with Lightning, Hope and Fang on the Ship

Initial Battles : The initial battles are simple, offering a good opportunity to accumulate CP.
Item Collection : Find the Lifesaber weapon for Lightning and other valuable capsules.

2. Facing PSICOM Huntress and Viking

Earning CP : Enjoy the battle against PSICOM Huntress and Viking to earn a significant amount of CP.
Crystarium Development : Learn Dispel from Fang to remove buffs from enemies.

3. Interleaving with Sazh and Vanille

Continuous Improvement : Continue improving Sazh and Vanille’s abilities in the Crystarium.
Important Items : Pay attention to collect rare items like Royal Armlet, useful for increasing defense.

4. Facing Thormadon and Other Enemies

Combat Tactics : Against Thormadon, choose between strengthening defense or increasing attack, depending on the team controlled and the situation.

5. Battles Against the Kalavinka Striker

First Fight (108000 HP) : Use Protect, Shell and Barthunder for defense; attack with Light on COM and Fang on WIS.
Second Fight (122400 HP) : Adopt the same strategy, but be prepared for more powerful attacks.

6. Team Tutorial

Team Formation : You can now choose your party members, with Lightning as the fixed leader. Consider the balance between attack, defense, and support when building your team.

7. Exploration and Item Collection

Notable Items : Collect items such as Rune Bracelet, Umbra and Gold Bangle which are beneficial in improving your team’s capabilities.

8. Preparation for the Final Boss: Barthandelus

Arm Destruction : Focus on destroying Barthandelus’ arms to minimize elemental attacks.
Strategic Team Choice : A Medic is crucial. Consider including Sazh for Haste, Hope for additional defense, or Fang/Vanille for debuffs.

9. Facing Barthandelus

Strategies and Paradigms : Use a combination of attack, defense and healing. A MEDIC is a must, and choose between Sazh, Hope, Fang or Vanille to complement Lightning’s abilities.
Watch out for Powerful Attacks : When Barthandelus is slow to attack, prepare for a strong blow and defend or heal your team.

10. Chapter Completion and Crystarium Expansion

Increased Difficulty in Earning CP : Prepare for a greater challenge as you advance, as skills in Crystarium will become more expensive.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter IX

Team Balance : Choose a team that complements Lightning’s abilities and offers a good balance between offense, defense, and support.
Efficient Crystarium Management : Make the most of the CPs you earn by focusing on skills that significantly strengthen your characters.
Adaptation to Battles : Change your tactics and paradigms as needed, especially during boss battles

such as the Kalavinka Striker and Barthandelus, where the correct choice of paradigms and actions can determine the outcome of the confrontation.

Complete Exploration : Take your time as you pass through different areas of the ship. Take the time to fully explore and collect all the valuable items available.
Preparation for Powerful Attacks : In boss battles, always be prepared for devastating attacks and have a strategy to respond quickly, whether with intense healing or reinforced defense.
Strategic Use of Buffs and Debuffs : Efficiently applying buffs to your team and debuffs to enemies is crucial, especially in boss battles like Barthandelus, where reducing the effectiveness of your attacks can be the key to victory.
Adaptation and Experimentation with Teams : Don’t hesitate to experiment with different team combinations and paradigms to find the most effective strategy for each challenge.
Preparation for the Final Phase of the Game : This chapter serves as a prelude to the more challenging parts of the game. Use it to hone your skills and strategies, preparing yourself for future challenges.

Chapter X

1. Role Development and Combat Strategies

Character Development : Focus on improving each character’s existing roles in Crystarium, rather than investing in new roles at this time.
Elemental Monsters : Use Libra to identify weaknesses and strengthen your team with debuffs like Deprotect and Deshell. In Stagger Mode, elemental monsters are particularly vulnerable to Commandos.
High Defense Monsters : Apply debuffs like Deprotect and Deshell to reduce their resistance, and use Ravager abilities to quickly increase chain gauge.
Fast Attack Monsters : Use Slow to slow them down or respond with Haste for faster combat.

2. Combats and Item Collection

Ship Combat : Fights are manageable, allowing for the collection of CP and useful items like Lifesaber for Lightning.
PSICOM Huntress and Viking : Enjoy battling these enemies to gain significant CP. Learn Dispel from Fang to remove buffs from enemies.

3. Team Building and Character Development

Snow and Vanille’s Team : Obtaining the Royal Armlet is a valuable opportunity, given its rarity and usefulness.
Character Traits : Understand each character’s strengths and weaknesses to form balanced teams. Sazh and Hope are great as Synergists, while Fang and Snow have high physical strength.

4. Facing the Greater Behemoth and Other Enemies

Greater Behemoth (75500 HP) : Use Medic and Synergist for effective defense and healing, and attack when there are safe opportunities.

5. Confrontation with the Boss: Cid Raines

Battle Against Cid Raines (226800 HP) : Adopt a dynamic strategy, shifting paradigms frequently to respond to Raines’ attack patterns. Include Sazh

for Haste and general buff, and keep effective healers like Hope or Vanille to respond to intense attacks.

Paradigm Tactics : Prepare a variety of paradigms to deal with different situations. Diversify between offensive, defensive, and healing to respond to Raines’ changing strategy.

6. Confrontation with Eidolon Bahamut

The Battle Against Bahamut : Use Fang, Lightning and Vanille in a balanced strategy that emphasizes defense (SEN), healing (MED) and debuffs (WIS) to increase the Gestalt Gauge.
Defense Against Massive Attacks : Defend against Bahamut’s powerful attacks and heal injured team members to efficiently increase the Gestalt Gauge.

7. Crystarium Expansion and Future Challenges

Increased Difficulty of Gaining CP : After the battle with Bahamut, the Crystarium expands, increasing the cost of upgrading skills. Strategically plan the use of CPs to maximize character development.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter X

Adapting to Changing Combat : Be ready to adapt your strategies and paradigms in response to enemy behavior, especially in confrontations with bosses like Cid Raines and Bahamut.
Balance Between Offense and Defense : Find a balance between offensive and defensive paradigms. Use debuffs to weaken enemies and buffs to strengthen your team.
Efficient Crystarium Management : Focus on honing the skills that give each character the greatest advantage in combat.
Exploration and Item Collection : Explore each area to collect all available items, which can provide significant advantages in the game.
Boss Battle Preparation : Before important encounters, review your strategies, paradigms, and equipment to ensure you are well prepared.
Efficient Use of Paradigms : Switch between paradigms based on the needs of the battle, responding nimbly to changes in the dynamics of combat.
Character Lore : Make the most of each character’s unique abilities by forming teams that complement their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses.

Chapter XI

1. Hope’s Achievement of Eidolon Alexander

Battle of Eidolon : Start the chapter by facing Alexander with Hope, Lightning and Fang. Increase Alexander’s Gestalt Gauge by focusing on Ravager attacks to increase Chain Gauge, healing injured limbs and defending against powerful attacks.

2. Weapons and Combat Strategies

Hauteclaire Weapon Acquisition for Lightning : Stay tuned to acquire this powerful weapon.
Combat Challenges : Be prepared to face enemies with a higher level of difficulty, which will require more sophisticated strategies and efficient use of CP.

3. Facing the Behemoth King and Other Monsters

Behemoth King (487620 HP) : Despite being a challenging enemy, it is not necessary to face him, as the CP acquired may not justify the effort.

4. Cie’th Stone Tutorial and Quests

Cie’th Stone Quests : You can now undertake side quests. Although they are challenging, we recommend leaving them until after completing the game.

5. Juggernaut Showdown and Water Challenges

Juggernaut (1584000 HP) : A challenging enemy that requires Vanille to break its defense. A team with Sazh, Vanille, and Hope is recommended due to the combination of debuffs, buffs, and healing.

6. Achievement of the Eidolon Hecatoncheir by Vanille

Battle of Eidolon : Face Hecatoncheir with Vanille and Fang. Focus on debuffs, healing, and increasing Chain Gauge to conquer this Eidolon.

7. Challenges in Taejin’s Tower

Mandatory Missions : Complete the mandatory missions inside the tower to progress.
Teleport Points and Cie’th Stones : Activate teleport points by completing specific Cie’th Stone missions to facilitate navigation.

8. Confrontation with Dahaka and Other Challenges

Battle against Dahaka (2314800 HP) : Although Dahaka is not extremely strong, it is important to apply debuffs like Deprotect and Deshell to maximize damage. Stay prepared for their surprise attacks.

9. Bhakti Exploration and Repair in Oerba Village

Bhakti Repair : Collect the equipment needed to repair Bhakti in Oerba Village. This not only offers useful items and tips, but is also an interesting part of the game’s story.

10. Final Showdown with Barthandelus

Battle against Barthandelus (3307500 HP) : This confrontation will require an adaptive strategy, as Barthandelus changes form and acquires new attacks. Focus on applying debuffs and protecting your team with buffs. Consider including Fang for debuffs and an efficient healer like Hope or Vanille.

11. Expanded Crystarium and Endgame Preparation

Advanced Crystarium Development : With the Crystarium expansion, prepare for an increase in the difficulty of upgrading character skills.
Weapons Acquired : Keep an eye out for weapons collected in this chapter, such as the Simurgh, Heavenly Axis, and Taming Pole, and evaluate whether they should be equipped based on the characters’ play style and needs.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter XI

Adapting to Changing Combat : This chapter introduces more complex challenges. Be ready to adapt your strategies and paradigms in response to enemy behavior.
Efficient Use of Paradigms : Switch between paradigms in an agile manner, using a combination of attack, defense and healing to deal with the varied challenges.
Crystarium Strategic Management : Prioritize the development of skills that will provide the greatest advantages in combat, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each character.
Thorough Exploration and Item Collection : Take time to explore each area thoroughly and collect all valuable items.
Boss Battle Preparation : Review your strategies, paradigms, and equipment before important confrontations such as battles against the Eidolons and Barthandelus.
Balance Between Attack and Defense : Find a balance between strengthening your team and weakening enemies, especially in boss battles.
Recognition and Adaptation to Enemies’ Abilities: Use the Libra technique to understand enemies’ weaknesses and resistances, adapting your combat strategy to take advantage of this information.
Preparation for the End of the Game : This chapter serves as preparation for the final stages of Final Fantasy XIII. Use it to enhance your combat skills, paradigm strategies, and character development.
Carefully Choose Teams for Each Challenge : With the flexibility to assemble your team, choose characters that complement each other in terms of both offensive and defensive abilities.
Strategic Use of Eidolons : In difficult battles, don’t hesitate to use Eidolons. They can offer a significant boost in tricky fights, especially against bosses like Barthandelus.

Chapter XII

1. Facing the Adamanchelids and Other Tough Enemies

Battle Against Adamanchelid : Prepare for a challenging confrontation with Adamanchelid, one of the toughest enemies in the chapter. Consider using shrouds like Fortisol and Aegisol to gain a head start. Focus on filling the enemy’s chain gauge quickly, as their attacks can be devastating.
Leader Choice and Team Formation : Selecting a character with high HP as leader (Snow, Fang or Sazh) can be strategic. Use Sentinel when necessary to absorb heavy damage.

2. Boss Showdowns: The Proudclad

First Battle (1530000 HP) : The Proudclad is immune to all statuses, so focus on applying defense and attack buffs to your team. Maintain constant healing and be prepared for a prolonged fight, as the boss can restore your HP and apply buffs to itself.
Second Battle (3570000 HP) : This battle is more complicated, with The Proudclad switching between Anihilator and Aerial Defense modes. Keep defense high, especially during continuous attacks in Aerial Defense mode. When the boss buffs itself with Haste, Bravery and Faith, but also applies Deprotect and Deshell to itself, take the opportunity to increase damage. Have Hope and Vanille to ensure efficient healing during battle.

3. Collecting Valuable Items and Equipment

Important Weapons : Be on the lookout to collect weapons like Lionheart, Rebel Heart, Punisher, Antares Deluxes and Mistilteinn, which can be crucial to improving your characters’ performance.
Royal Armlet : When you defeat The Proudclad a second time, you will obtain the Royal Armlet, an extremely useful defensive item.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter XII

Preparation for Major Battles : Before facing enemies like Adamanchelid and The Proudclad, review your strategies, paradigms, and equipment.
Efficient Paradigm Management : Switch between paradigms to maintain an effective combination of attack, defense, and healing, especially in long boss battles.
Strategic Use of Buffs and Debuffs : Although The Proudclad is immune to debuffs, applying defense and attack buffs to your team is crucial to surviving intense attacks.
Adapting to Changing Combat : Be ready to adapt your strategies in response to enemy behavior and transformations, especially against The Proudclad in its different forms.
Complete Exploration and Item Collection : Take time to explore each area of the chapter and collect all the valuable items available.
Balance Between Attack and Defense : Find a balance between strengthening your team and weakening enemies, especially in clashes with powerful bosses like The Proudclad.
Preparation for Prolonged Battles : Carefully manage your team’s health and keep yourself supplied with healing and reviving items, as boss fights can be extensive and draining.
Efficient Resource Utilization : Make the most of shrouds and other support items to gain a head start in the most challenging battles.
Carefully Choose Teams for Each Challenge : With the flexibility to assemble your team, choose characters that complement each other in terms of offensive and defensive abilities.
Adaptation and Experimentation with Teams : Don’t hesitate to experiment with different team combinations and paradigms to find the most effective strategy for each challenge.

Chapter XIII

1. Facing Megrim Thresher and Dagonite

Megrim Thresher (1017000 HP) : Despite its large HP, it is vulnerable to various statuses and weak to ice, water and wind. Utilize Ravagers efficiently to exploit these weaknesses.
Dagonite (203400 HP) : An agile enemy capable of strengthening itself with buffs. Use Dispel to remove his buffs and weaken him, while dealing with his powerful attacks.

2. Battles with Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch

Jabberwocky (678000 HP) and Bandersnatch (254250 HP) : Focus on Jabberwocky first, due to its low magic resistance. Bandersnatch, with strong physical attacks, should be the next target.

3. Confrontation with Sanctum Templar

Sanctum Templar (565000 HP) : This enemy reduces magic damage by half and is vulnerable to debuffs. His Rare Drop, Perovskite, is a valuable item, so consider taking him on multiple times to get it.

4. Battle with Wladislaus

Wladislaus (734500 HP) : A challenging fight where Stagger’s strategy is not viable. Use Protect to mitigate its strong physical attacks. He is weaker against spells, but be careful with his attacks that can remove your buffs.

5. Additional Challenges and CP Collection

Facing Strong Enemies : Take the opportunity to face difficult enemies and accumulate substantial CP.

6. Facing Tiamat Eliminator

Tiamat Eliminator (3825000 HP) : This boss reduces all damage by half and is immune to status. When he changes form, take advantage of his vulnerability to debuffs like Imperil, Deprotect, and Deshell.

7. The Final Showdown with Barthandelus

Barthandelus (5227500 HP) : It reduces magic damage by half, but with Imperil, the resistance can be neutralized. It is vulnerable to Slow, Deshell and Deprotect. Watch out for its Ultima attack.

8. Battle Against Orphan

Orphan (6780000 HP) : Orphan starts with an at

the powerful one that demands immediate healing. The ideal lineup includes Hope, Fang, and Vanille to combine healing, debuffs, and an effective Commando. Orphan is vulnerable to many statuses, so use this to your advantage. Keep an eye out to heal and reapply buffs as needed.

9. Showdown with Orphan’s New Form

Orphan – New Form (3390000 HP) : Orphan is now resistant to physical attacks and will impose Doom on its leader. Focus on magical attacks and use a Commando only in Stagger Mode. A good lineup might include a Saboteur like Fang and two Ravagers.

10. Expanded Crystarium and Sidequest Preparation

Crystarium Maximization : After the final battles, the Crystarium will reach its maximum potential, allowing for deeper development of character abilities for the sidequests in Gran Pulse.

Tips and Strategies for Chapter XIII

Preparation for Big Battles : Review your strategies, paradigms and equipment before facing the bosses in this chapter, each with their own particularities and challenges.
Efficient Paradigm Management : Switch between paradigms to maintain an effective combination of attack, defense, and healing, especially in prolonged boss battles.
Strategic Use of Debuffs and Buffs : Take advantage of bosses’ vulnerabilities to debuffs and keep your team strengthened with buffs, especially in confrontations with Orphan and Barthandelus.
Adapting to Changing Combat : Be ready to adapt your strategies in response to enemy behavior, especially against Orphan in its different forms.
Balance Between Attack and Defense : Find a balance between strengthening your team and weakening enemies, especially in boss battles.
Preparation for Long Battles : Carefully manage your team’s health and be prepared for long fights, especially against Tiamat Eliminator and Orphan.
Collecting Rare Items and CP : Take advantage of opportunities to face difficult enemies and collect rare items such as Perovskite, as well as accumulate significant CP.
Complete Exploration and Item Collection : Take time to explore each area of the chapter and collect all the valuable items available.