Final Fantasy IV Any% Credits Warp with Music Guide

Jason Lynch <jason@aexoden.com> (Aexoden)

Introduction

These are my notes for the Final Fantasy IV Any% Credits Warp with Music speedrun. This is not the standard credits warp run. The standard one is much simpler inventory-wise, but it does lock up after the end of the credits and there is no music. These notes will instead lead to a fully-functional ending with music and no freezing (though it does briefly stutter). That said, all credits warp routes suffer from an approximate 50% chance of not working at all each time, so nobody actually runs them. This guide is mostly kept around as documentation.

While I am very familiar with the game and the speedrun, I am nonetheless nowhere near being the world record holder in this category or any other, so there are almost certainly faster ways to do things. That said, I do periodically update this document as new techniques and strategies are discovered, so if you follow them, you're probably not doomed to be perilously slow.

General Concepts

While these are largely my personal notes used when I actually run the game, a number of people have been using them to learn the run, so I will briefly go over some of the more general concepts that apply to the run. However, the notes will almost certainly still assume you are generally familiar with some of the techniques used speedrunning the game (such as item duplication and run buffering). If you are unfamiliar with these, there are other resources on this site that you may wish to examine.

Experience Path

Unfortunately, as it turns out, levels matter a lot in this run. As such, there is a lot of research into the best ways to allocate experience throughout the run. Experience is primarily manipulated using the following facts:

  1. Dead characters do not gain experience. Total experience from the fight is divided amongst living party members. Therefore, the fewer characters that are alive, the more experience the living ones collect.
  2. Characters in the so-called shadow party gain the same amount of experience as living party members. These are characters who have left the party and will later return.

The "perfect" path is a matter of personal preference and is always up for debate. I make my recommendations throughout this guide, but there are many ways to skin a cat, and you're welcome to develop your own path that suits your playing style better. That said, the experience path is a lot more forgiving in this category than it is in the Any% No64 run. You'll still want to keep in mind the following point:

In these notes, I am following the same experience path as in my No64 notes to keep things consistent. However, that isn't necessary, and there are other ways to handle it. Consult some of the other guides for more information.

Inventory Management

Another important aspect of any NoCW run is inventory management. You end up with a very full inventory and the exact locations of some of the items will be important by the end of the run. This guide makes some recommendations, but ultimately, you will need to come up with an inventory management scheme you're comfortable with.

Mimic Glitch

You have the option of using the Mimic Glitch (AKA Carrot/TrashCan) to defeat Milon and/or Milon Z. Learning these is beyond the scope of this guide, but it may be useful to know that you only need to pick up the Carrot or move the TrashCan to the top of the inventory if you intend to utilize these strategies.

Assumptions

This guide makes the assumption that you are following along from start to finish. Menuing instructions assume that your characters are already equipped as per the guide, and won't list equipment that is staying the same. If you attempt to join in the middle, you may miss this or similar points.

Conventions

This guide uses the following conventions:

Resources

The following resources should prove invaluable to either help during a run or to help you learn the run in the first place:

Walkthrough

Prologue

Begin the game. During the introduction, you may wish to hold down B+Right+Down immediately before the battle with the Raven, in an attempt to avoid the Raven's attack. This is known as the BRD or BIRD skip. It may or may not work for you, depending on the awesomeness of your mashing. Finish the introduction and gain control.

Menu

  • Set battle speed and battle message to 1.

Step Route

If you're on seed 92, be sure to take at least one extra step before you finish the introduction sequence.

Pick up the Tent (the rightmost chest) on Castle Baron 1F and then head to Cecil's room in the left tower to finish the introduction.

Walk to the chocobo forest, optionally pick up the Carrot, capture a yellow chocobo, and ride to the Misty Cave.

Misty Cave

Walk through the cave until you reach the boss.

Battle: D.Mist

Battle Information
HP
465
EXP
700
Party
*Kain (10:2300) / empty / *Cecil (10:3000) / empty / *empty
Battle Plan
Kain
Jump
Cecil
Fight
Cecil
Fight
Kain
Fight
Cecil
Fight
Kain
Jump
Cecil
Fight

D.Mist turns to mist.

Cecil
Parry
Kain
Wait until note before long high note
Jump
Cecil
Wait for "Now, get ready to fight!"
Duplicate shield slot
Fight
Cecil
Fight
Kain
Duplicate shield slot
Jump
Cecil
Fight

Continue with Fight and Jump until D.Mist falls. There is a small chance (just under 1%) of a third cycle, depending on damage rolls. Note that you are duplicating both Kain and Cecil's shields. While doing so, do not reuse the same initial slot.

Mist Clip

After the battle, exit the cave and head toward Mist. When you approach the last tile before the town, hold left, and then hold X. When the menu opens, release the keys, and then use the Tent. After the night is over, and Cecil lowers his arm, begin to hold right, and almost immediately after, begin to hold X (while continuing to hold right). Once the menu is open, you can release the keys.

Menu

  • Equip Kain: Iron (shield).
  • Unequip Kain: Iron (shield) in same slot, which will leave an "empty" slot in your inventory.
  • Unequip Kain: Iron (gauntlet).
  • Equip Cecil: Shadow (shield) (finishes duplication).
  • Save the game, reset, and reload.

Walk past the village tiles, and then enter Mist from the right side. Head to the weapon shop.

Shopping

  • Sell empty slot where you unequipped Iron (shield).
  • Buy 10 Dancing (dagger).

Head to the northwest house, enter the fireplace, and pick up the Tiara from the first chest and Change (rod) from the chest at the end of the long passage. Exit the house and trigger the cut scene.

Battle: Girl

Battle Information
HP
65000
EXP
0
Party
*Kain (10:2650) / empty / *Cecil (11:3350) / empty / *empty
Inventory Goals
Tiara to 1L
Dancing to 1R
Change to 3L
Carrot to 3R
Iron (gauntlet) to 7L
Battle Plan

Attempt to rearrange your inventory during the animations. Change rows at the end for fist-pump swag strats.

Kaipo

Step Route

If you are using a step route, this is when you need to start watching which steps you get encounters on.

Continue to Kaipo in the middle of the desert. Enter the town and trigger the cut scene.

NPC Movement

NPC movement may seem random, but it's actually reasonably deterministic during this portion of the game. Assuming you walk perfectly and don't stand around, the NPCs will always be in the same location from run to run. This will remain true until Fabul. Learn where the NPCs will be and optimize your walking accordingly.

Battle: Officer x1, Soldier x3

Battle Information
HP
Officer: 221 / Soldier: 27
EXP
480
Party
empty / empty / *Cecil (11:3350) / empty / *empty
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Fight
Cecil
Run Buffer
Fight
Cecil
Run Buffer
Fight

After the soldiers are dead, simply twiddle your thumbs until the Officer retreats.

Menu

  • Equip Rydia: Tiara.
  • Move Rydia down one slot. (Form, A, Down, A)

Visit Rosa in the northeast house. Mash with B to avoid talking to Rosa repeatedly. Afterward, leave the house.

Just before exiting the town (immediately after emerging from the door in the wall), take one step to the right, and then go down.

Head north to the cave and enter the Watery Pass.

Watery Pass

Walk through the first part of the cave, recruit Tellah, and then continue to the end of the cave. In the last room, pick up Darkness (sword) and exit the cave.

Enter the other cave and proceed until you meet Octomamm.

Battle: Octomamm

Battle Information
HP
2350
EXP
1200
Party
*Tellah (20:54873) / Rydia (1:0) / *Cecil (11:3830) / empty / *empty
Inventory Goals
Shadow (sword) to bottom
Rod to bottom
Carrot to 3R
TrashCan to 4R
Battle Plan

The following turn order assumes nothing goes particularly badly. Depending on how the battle actually flows, you may need to have Tellah revive Rydia with Life1 or cure the party with Cure2. Research suggests it is optimal for Tellah to stop himself on his third turn, but you can delay this if you need to cure. If Tellah gets any additional turns after casting Stop, it's easiest to just Parry.

Cecil
Equip Darkness (sword)
Fight
Tellah
Equip Change
Cast Lit-1
Rydia
Equip Dancing
Use Dancing
Cecil
Inventory Management
Fight
Tellah
Cast Lit-1
Cecil
Inventory Management
Fight
Rydia
Use Dancing
Tellah
Duplicate Weapon Slot
Cast Stop on Tellah
Cecil
Fight
Rydia
Use Dancing
Run Buffer
Cecil
Inventory Management
Fight
Cecil
Fight
Rydia
Use Dancing

At this point, just continue the pattern until Octomamm dies.

Immediately after the battle, open the menu.

Menu

  • Equip Tellah: Change (finishes duplication).
  • Change rows and swap Tellah and Rydia. (Form, Left, A, Down, A)
  • Move Cecil down one slot. (Form, Down, Down, A, Down, A)

Exit the cave and enter Damcyan. Head to the top of the castle, watch the scene, and then take the hovercraft to the Antlion cave.

Antlion

Follow the path to the second room. You may take either the left or right path, but the right path feels better to me. Your mileage may vary. Once in the second room, pick up the chest on the right side with a Life.

Take the secret passage in the second room and make your way to Antlion's Nest and engage Antlion.

Battle: Antlion

Battle Information
HP
1000
EXP
1500
Party
Rydia (4:400) / *empty / Edward (5:388) / *Cecil (11:4230) / empty
Inventory Goals
Cap to 4L
Battle Plan
Cecil
Use Life on Rydia/Parry
Edward
Equip Dancing
Use Dancing
Rydia
Inventory Management
Use Dancing
Cecil
Parry
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Cecil
Parry (or perhaps Fight—see below)
Rydia
Use Dancing

Depending on damage rolls, Cecil may be able to Fight on his last turn instead of Parrying. He can do anywhere from 0-70 damage, with a median value of 54.

Walk out of the cave, board the hovercraft, and return to Kaipo, making sure to park directly to the left of the town.

Kaipo Revisited

Head to the house in the northeast corner of town and use the SandRuby on Rosa.

During the night, Edward will loudly play his harp and an angry monster who was just trying to sleep will attack.

Battle: WaterHag

Battle Information
HP
45672
EXP
800
Party
empty / *empty / Edward (6:888) / *empty / empty
Battle Plan
Edward
Fight
Edward
Fight
Edward
Fight

You can simply hold the A button for the duration of the fight.

It's a common misconception that it's the Dancing (dagger) that makes this fight consistent. It's actually the fact that Edward is being placed in the middle slot, which offers a 25% accuracy bonus. Since the harp is a back row-compatible weapon in the American release, these factors combine to give him perfect accuracy. It also means Edward is back row-glitched, so even if you switch to the dagger, he retains his perfect accuracy. You may have seen a video of Edward and WaterHag trading misses. This is primarily a problem on the Japanese version or on the PlayStation version, where the harp is not back row-compatible, reducing Edward's accuracy substantially. In that case, you either want him in the front row or you can use the Dancing (dagger). Either way, it's irrelevant for this run.

After waking up, leave the town, making sure to take a step to the left immediately before exiting.

Take the hovercraft to the entrance of Mt.Hobs, parking directly to the left of the entrance.

Glitch Setup

This choice of parking location is not optional, and is actually critical to the glitch used later. If you park somewhere else, you will probably be unable to finish your run.

Mt.Hobs

Climb the mountain and meet Yang at the top.

During Yang's solo battle, you can potentially manipulate yourself out of a longer battle by checking the damage rolls against this chart and pausing for a short while if you get a bad first kick.

Battle: MomBomb

Battle Information
HP
MomBomb: 10800 (800) / Bomb: 50 / GrayBomb: 100
EXP
2460
Party
Rydia (6:900) / *Yang (10:2061) / Edward (8:1688) / *Cecil (12:4730) / Rosa (10:2139)
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Cecil
Fight
Rosa
Cast Cure1/Parry
Yang
Fight
Rydia
Use Dancing
Edward
Use Dancing/Parry
Cecil
Fight/Parry
Rosa
Cast Cure1/Parry

Once you have done 800 damage, you can stop attacking. At that point, heal or parry until Yang's turn.

Yang
Wait for "Exploding!"
Wait one second after "Exploding!" disappears
Kick
Rydia
Use Dancing on GrayBomb
Edward
Use Dancing on GrayBomb
Cecil
Fight
Rosa
Use Aim on weakest Bomb
Edward
Use Dancing on GrayBomb
Yang
Fight

After the battle, continue to the other side of the mountain. Continue downward and then head east to Fabul.

Fabul

Head to the King's Room and offer to help. (Do not mash the B button during this dialogue.)

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #1 - General x1, Fighter x2

Battle Information
HP
General: 320 / Fighter: 65
EXP
820
Party
empty / *Yang (10:2553) / Edward (9:2180) / *Cecil (12:5222) / empty
Inventory Goals
Dreamer to bottom
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing on top Fighter
Cecil
Fight
Yang
Fight

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #2 - Weeper x1, Imp Cap. x1, WaterHag x1

Battle Information
HP
Weeper: 100 / Imp Cap.: 37 / WaterHag: 48
EXP
490
Party
empty / *Yang (10:2826) / Edward (9:2453) / *Cecil (12:5495) / empty
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Cecil
Fight WaterHag
Yang
Fight

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #3 - General x1, Fighter x2

Battle Information
HP
General: 320 / Fighter: 65
EXP
820
Party
empty / *Yang (11:2989) / Edward (10:2616) / *Cecil (12:5658) / empty
Inventory Goals
Cap to 1L
<empty> to 2L
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing on top Fighter
Yang
Fight
Cecil
Fight

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #4 - Gargoyle x1

Battle Information
HP
160
EXP
320
Party
empty / *Yang (11:3262) / Edward (10:2889) / *Cecil (12:5931) / empty
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Yang
Duplicate FireClaw slot
Equip FireClaw in other hand

If for whatever reason you are unable to do the duplication in this fight, you can do it in either of the upcoming two fights.

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #5 - Weeper x1, Imp Cap. x1, WaterHag x1

Battle Information
HP
Weeper: 100 / Imp Cap.: 37 / WaterHag: 48
EXP
490
Party
empty / *Yang (11:3368) / Edward (10:2995) / *Cecil (13:6037) / empty
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Yang
Fight
Cecil
Fight WaterHag

Battle: Fabul Gauntlet #6 - General x1, Fighter x2

Battle Information
HP
General: 320 / Fighter: 65
EXP
820
Party
empty / *Yang (11:3531) / Edward (10:3158) / *Cecil (13:6200) / empty
Battle Plan
Edward
Run Buffer
Use Dancing on top Fighter
Yang
Fight
Cecil
Duplicate Shield Slot
Fight

Battle: Dragoon

Battle Information
HP
65000
EXP
0
Party
empty / *empty / empty / *Cecil (13:6473) / empty
Battle Plan
Cecil
Fight Cecil

Walk to the Inn and watch the scenes.

Menu

  • Unequip Yang: FireClaw.
  • Equip Yang: FireClaw (only equip one) (finishes duplication, leaving you 255 FireClaw).
  • Equip Rydia: Change/*/Cap/*/*. (leaves 254 Change)
  • Equip Cecil: Black (sword).

Head down the stairs and make your way to the exit. After leaving Fabul, head for the ship to the east.

Mysidia

Walk east into Mysidia and go to the armor shop on the left.

Menu

  • Equip Cecil: Shadow (shield).
  • Unequip Cecil: Shadow (shield) in same slot, which will leave an "empty" slot in your inventory.

Shopping

  • Sell empty slot where you unequipped Shadow (shield).
  • Buy 10 Gaea (helm), 10 Gaea (armor), 10 Silver (ring), 1 Paladin (shield), 1 Paladin (gauntlet).
  • Buy 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 Paladin (armor).

Head to the House of Wishes and talk to the elder. After the scene, head to the item shop on the right side of town.

Shopping

  • Buy 52 Cure2, 52 Life, 52 Heal, 52 Ether1.
  • Sell 52 Change three times (leaves 98 Change).
  • Sell 52 Shadow (shield) three times (leaves 99).
  • Sell 52 FireClaw twice (leaves 151).
  • Sell extra Life, Dreamer, Darkness, Shadow (sword).

You might opt to buy a second stack of Cure2 for extra safety.

Exit the town and head east to Mt.Ordeals.

Mt.Ordeals

Caution

If you are intending to use the Mimic (Carrot) strategy to defeat Milon, ensure that Porom gets hurt on the way up the mountain. This can be done either by an enemy (e.g. during a back attack) or by your own violent hands.

Climb the mountain until you reach the summit.

Once on the summit, continue until you are even with the final bridge.

Menu

  • Equip Porom (for Twin strats only): */*/Tiara/Gaea/Silver.
  • Equip Palom: */Change/Gaea/Gaea/Silver.
  • Equip Tellah: Change/*/Gaea/*/Silver.
  • Fully heal the party (for Twin strats only).

If you are going to use the Mimic (Carrot) strategy, you should not equip or heal Porom. You do need to equip Change on Palom and Tellah, however.

Battle: Milon

Battle Information
HP
Milon: 3000 (2300) / Ghast: 170
EXP
3800
Party
Porom (10:1957) / *empty / Palom (10:1957) / *Cecil (13:6473) / Tellah (20:58316)
Inventory Goals
Paladin (shield) to 2R
Battle Plan
Cecil
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Palom
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Porom
Twin
Tellah
Duplicate Weapon Slot
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Cecil
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Cecil
Inventory Management
Fight
Tellah
Use Cure2 on twin/Parry
Palom
Twin
Cecil
Fight
Tellah
Use Cure2 on twin/Parry
Cecil
Inventory Management
Fight

If the twins cast Comet or if your Flare rolls are horrendous, Cecil should probably give up on attacking, and you should instead just expect to use Twin a third time. You can still try, though. Sometimes it works out.

If your Porom is at full health, you should probably just abort and click that Twin tab instead.

Cecil
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Palom
Inventory Management
Cast Fire1 on Porom
Porom
Run Buffer
Twin
Tellah
Duplicate Weapon Slot
Use Life on Porom
Cecil
Use Cure2 on Ghast

At this point, Milon should screech "Go, my children!" Cecil's next turn should arrive before Palom uses the Cure2.

Cecil
Wait for Palom's Cure2
Parry
Tellah
Cast Stop on Cecil
Porom
Run Buffer
Use Cure2 on Ghast
Run Buffer
Cecil
Half-use Cure2 (don't select a target, but cancel back to the item selection instead)
Swap Cure2 and Carrot
Close menu and wait

This strategy is incredibly timing-sensitive. There are many ways it can go wrong, and the only way to really get good at this strategy is to practice it over and over. Porom's first run buffer has an incredibly short window, and in my experience, you must slightly anticipate it unless you have excellent reaction times. Regarding Tellah casting Stop, you may have better success if you have him wait a second or two before casting, but that never works for me.

Menu

  • Equip Tellah: Change (finishes duplication).
  • Fully heal the party (including MP if necessary).
  • Change rows and swap Porom and Tellah. (Form, Left, A, Up, A)
  • If using the Cure2 strategy, cast Piggy on all party members.

Walk across the bridge and engage Milon Z.

Battle: Milon Z.

Battle Information
HP
3000
EXP
4000
Party
*Tellah (20:59266) / empty / *Palom (11:2907) / Cecil (13:7423) / *Porom (11:2907)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil, Palom and Tellah
Inventory Goals
Rod to bottom
Darkness to bottom
Leather to bottom
IronRing to bottom
Battle Plan

Cecil should Fight and everyone else should use Cure2 on Milon Z.

It's unlikely you'll need to heal, but if you do, you have plenty of Life or Cure2 potions.

The experience path assumes one character (specifically Porom) dies here. If you're close to finishing the battle and everyone is still alive, you may want to kill someone to keep your experience path intact (doesn't matter who). To be honest, though, it doesn't really matter for this route, as the experience path is a lot more forgiving. It's also okay if more than one person dies.

Cecil
Use Cure2/Use Heal/Parry

Cecil should execute this action as the damage from Milon Z.'s attack disappears. If he gets another turn, he should Parry immediately. Some people recommend a Run Buffer as well, though I haven't personally needed that.

Palom
Cast Ice-2 on Porom
Tellah
Run Buffer
Cast Stop on Cecil
Porom
Run Buffer
Twin
Cecil
Half-use Cure2 (don't select a target, but cancel back to the item selection instead)
Swap Cure2 and TrashCan
Close menu and wait

Tellah's menu should pop up before Palom uses the TrashCan, leaving you plenty of time to do any necessary inventory management.

The experience path assumes one character dies here (specifically Porom). Since you brutally murdered her by casting Ice-2, that problem is solved. It isn't a problem if more people die, either.

After the battle, enter the tomb and watch the scene.

Battle: D.Knight

Battle Information
HP
1000
EXP
0
Party
*empty / Cecil (1:0) / *empty / empty / *empty
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Equip Dancing
Use Dancing
Cecil
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Cecil
Equip Paladin (shield)
Use Dancing
Cecil
Run Buffer
Use Dancing

After the scenes, descend the mountain and head to the chocobo forest. Catch a yellow chocobo and travel back to Mysidia.

Glitch Setup

When you release the chocobo, check if you had a good chocobo using the yellow chocobo image. The top pixel of the chocobo should not be in one of the red areas. If you did get a bad chocobo, it's not the end of the world. You will have a chance to fix it later, though it will cost you some time.

Talk to the elder, and then head to Baron via the Serpent Road.

Return to Baron

Go to the back of the Inn and talk to Yang.

Battle: Guard x2

Battle Information
HP
200
EXP
0
Party
*Tellah (20:60599) / Cecil (1:0) / *Palom (12:4240) / empty / *Porom (11:2907)
Inventory Goals
<empty> to 1L
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Use Dancing
Palom
Equip Dancing
Use Dancing
Tellah
Inventory Management

If either Cecil or Palom are unable to kill their respective Guards, Tellah should cast Virus.

Battle: Karate

Battle Information
HP
4000
EXP
0
Party
*Tellah (20:60599) / Cecil (1:0) / *Palom (12:4240) / empty / *Porom (11:2907)
Battle Plan
Cecil
Wait for "ACHOOOOO"
Fight

It's actually possible to trigger the end of battle earlier than that message, but the timing necessary to do so is not consistent, so it's pretty much TAS-only.

After the scenes, head to the Baron weapon and armor shop.

Shopping

  • Buy 10 Headband, 10 Karate.
  • Sell 10 Shadow (shield).
  • Sell Leather, IronRing, Staff.
  • Buy 3 FireClaw, 13 FireClaw, 53 IceClaw, 10 Thunder (rod), 10 IceClaw, 99 IceClaw.

Enter the Old Water-way and continue until just before the Baigan battle on Castle Baron 1F.

Menu

  • Underflow Tellah's MP.
  • Fully cure Cecil and Tellah.
  • Equip Cecil: */*/Headband/Karate/Paladin.
  • Equip Yang: */IceClaw (from stack of 10)/Headband/Karate/Silver.

Move on to challenge Baigan.

Battle: Baigan

Battle Information
HP
Baigan: 3500 / RightArm: 350 / Left Arm: 350
EXP
4820
Party
*Tellah (20:60599) / Cecil (1:0) / *Palom (12:4240) / empty / *Porom (11:2907)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil and Tellah
Inventory Goals
Ether1 to 1L
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Cover Tellah
Yang
Fight Porom/Yang
Palom
Use Dancing on Yang/Porom/Palom
Tellah
Cast Meteo
Porom
Fight
Cecil
Use Dancing on Porom/Yang/Palom
Palom
Use Dancing on Yang/Palom
Cecil
Wait for Meteo
Equip Legend
Inventory Management

If you have the opportunity, any inventory management you do should probably begin to focus on setting up your inventory for the glitch. Refer to the Golbez section for more details on item placement.

Menu

  • Fully cure Cecil, Tellah and Yang.
  • Change rows.

Head to the throne room to fight Kainazzo.

Battle: Kainazzo

Battle Information
HP
4000
EXP
5500
Party
Tellah (20:63009) / *Cecil (10:2410) / Palom (12:4240) / *Yang (13:6087) / Porom (11:2907)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil, Tellah and Yang
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Fight
Yang
Fight
Tellah
Cast Lit-3
Cecil
Wait for Lit-3
Inventory Management

Mash Warning

Do not mash X during the scenes, unless you're looking to mercy kill your run. In particular, once you're on the airship, pressing X at the wrong time will cause the game to lock up. Stick to A or B (or some other button) instead.

After the scenes, fly to Toroia and enter the castle. Visit Edward on the left side of the castle, use an Ether1 on Tellah and then cast Exit.

Head north to the Chocobo Village, catch a black chocobo, and fly to Cave Magnes.

Cave Magnes

Head through the cave until you reach the crystal room.

Menu

  • Equip Cid: */*/Headband/*/Iron.
  • Change rows and swap Tellah and Cid. (Form, Left, A, Down, Down, A)
  • Swap Cecil and Tellah. (Form, Down, A, Down, A)
  • Move Yang down a slot. (Form, Up, A, Up, Up, A)

Talk to the Dark Elf. After the scene, talk to him again.

Battle: Dark Elf

Battle Information
HP
22000 (2000) (pre-change) / 3000 (post-change)
EXP
6000
Party
*Cid (20:26754) / Tellah (21:64842) / *Cecil (12:4243) / empty / *Yang (14:7920)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil, Tellah and Yang
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Fight
Yang
Fight
Cid
Fight
Tellah
Cast Virus on Cid
Cecil
Fight
Yang
Parry
Cecil
Fight
Tellah
Duplicate Weapon Slot
Wait for "ME CHANGE!"
Cast Weak
Yang
Duplicate Weapon Slot
Fight

After the battle, get the crystal, leave the room, and cast Exit.

Take the black chocobo back to the Chocobo Village and then get another black chocobo. Land according to the black chocobo image, and then walk the rest of the way to Toroia.

Glitch Setup

For landing your black chocobo, any of the tiles in the "Safe Zone" on the image is acceptable, but if you are on a step route, you want to land in a very particular spot. Particularly, you want to land roughly where the image says "Safe Zone". Essentially, when you walk to the left, you should be walking one tile above the break in the forest, and you will end up at the topmost tile of the Toroian Castle.

Talk to the clerics, cast Exit, and board your airship.

Tower of Zot

After Golbez is done taunting you, go up a floor and head to the chest with Fire.

Menu

  • Equip Yang: IceClaw (from single stack) (finishes duplication).
  • Equip Tellah: Change (from single stack) (finishes duplication).
  • Fully cure Cecil, Tellah and Yang.

Battle: FlameDog

Battle Information
HP
1221
EXP
1720
Party
*Cid (20:26754) / Tellah (21:66842) / *Cecil (13:6243) / empty / *Yang (15:9920)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil, Tellah and Yang
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Cover Tellah
Yang
Parry
Tellah
Cast Ice-2
Cecil
Wait for Ice-2
Single duplicate weapon slot
Inventory Management

Continue to the top of the tower.

Menu

  • Underflow Tellah's MP.
  • Fully cure Cecil and Tellah.
  • Equip Cecil: Fire (finishes duplication).
  • Equip Cecil: Dancing.

Battle: Magus Sisters

Battle Information
HP
Sandy: 2500 / Cindy: 4300 / Mindy: 2200
EXP
9000
Party
*Cid (20:26754) / Tellah (21:67415) / *Cecil (14:6816) / empty / *Yang (15:10493)
Ideal Survivors
Cecil and Tellah
Battle Plan
Cecil
Run Buffer
Cover Tellah
Yang
Fight Yang
Tellah
Cast Meteo
Cecil
Use Dancing on Yang/Use Cure2/Parry
Yang
Fight Yang
Cecil
Use Dancing on Yang/Wait for Meteo
Inventory Management

Killing Yang is essential to ensuring a level 19 Kain with this experience path, but keeping Tellah alive is more important (for hopefully obvious reasons).

Enter the door, watch the scene, talk to Kain and then finally watch the next scene.

Menu

  • Equip Kain: */Fire/Headband/Karate/*.
  • Equip Rosa: */*/Gaea/Gaea/Silver.
  • Swap Kain and Cecil. (Form, Down, A, Down, A)
  • Swap Cecil and Rosa. (Form, Down, A, Down, Down, A)
  • Revive all dead party members.

Battle: Valvalis

Battle Information
HP
6000
EXP
9500
Party
*Cid (20:26754) / Rosa (18:17481) / *Kain (19:20172) / Cecil (16:11316) / *Yang (15:10493)
Battle Plan

Kain should be level 19 at this time. If he (for whatever reason) is only level 18, after the first two jumps, have him alternate between Fight and Jump.

The timing on this fight is very sensitive. Don't hold A to fight unless directed to do so.

Kain
Jump
Cecil
Use Cure2 on Cecil
Yang
Wait for Jump to land
Fight
Rosa
Cast Slow
Cid
Fight
Cecil
Use Dancing
Kain
Jump
Yang
Fight (hold A)
Rosa
Wait for Jump
Cast Slow
Cecil
Use Dancing
Cid
Fight
Kain
Jump
Yang
Run Buffer
Kick
Rosa
Wait for Valvalis to transform
Use Cure2 on Cecil/Parry

At this point, Valvalis transforms into her tornado form.

Cecil
Use Dancing
Cid
Fight
Kain
Jump
Yang
Fight
Rosa
Parry
Cecil
Use Dancing
Cid
Fight
Kain
Jump/Fight
Yang
Fight
Rosa
Parry
Cecil
Use Dancing

If the damage rolls were decent, Kain can Fight on his last turn instead of Jumping. If Valvalis still doesn't die, just continue the normal pattern. She won't have much HP left at this point.

The Underworld

After the scenes, leave the castle and take the airship to Silvera, which is almost due west.

Shopping

  • Sell 54 Change (from stack of 255).
  • Sell 66 Change twice (from stack of 255).
  • Sell Gaea, Silver, Leather, Ether1, Headband, Karate, Cloth, IceClaw x9, Prisoner, Wind, Change x1.
  • Buy 34, 94, 38, 88, 50, 72, 72, 79 Silver (hammer).
  • Sell 79 Shadow (shield) (leaves 10).
  • Sell 1 Rod (leaves 1).

Afterward, fly to Agart.

Glitch Setup: Chocobo

This is your last chance to fix your yellow chocobo if you got a bad one. Head to the Chocobo Forest outside of Baron and keep getting yellow chocobos until you get a good one.

Use Magma on the well. Afterward, fly to the Underworld.

Menu

  • Swap Cid and Rosa. (Form, A, Down, A)
  • Swap Rosa and Cecil. (Form, A, Up, Up, A)

Glitch Setup

At this point, you need to enter the castle and observe 63 screen transitions before talking to the King. When you first arrive in the throne room, your count is 3. You need to go back down the stairs and back up the stairs a total of 30 times to get your count up to 63. If you don't do this correctly, you will not be going to glitchland today.

Battle: Calbrena

Battle Information
HP
Cal: 1000 / Brena: 300
EXP
6000
Party
*Cecil (17:13216) / empty / *Kain (19:22072) / Rosa (18:19381) / *Yang (16:12393)
Battle Plan
Kain
Run Buffer
Jump center Blue
Cecil
Use Dancing on center Orange
Yang
Kick
Rosa
Cast Slow on all enemies
Cecil
Use Dancing on top Orange
Rosa
Cast Mute on party
Kain
Jump top Blue
Yang
Kick
Cecil
Use Dancing on bottom Blue
Rosa
Use Cure2 on Cecil/Parry
Yang
Kick

If you have more than one blue and one orange doll remaining at this point, you need to do whatever it takes to eliminate the others. Only do the following once there are two dolls remaining.

Kain
Jump bottom Blue
Cecil
Use Dancing on bottom Orange

If you accidentally trigger the big doll, immediately change rows, have Kain Jump, and have Cecil keep himself healed with Cure2 potions. If you're lucky, you won't trigger the damage range that results in the dolls splitting again. (It's based on damage, not on time.)

Battle: Golbez

Battle Information
HP
22001 (3000)
EXP
20000
Party
*Cecil (17:14716) / Rydia (17:18391) / *Kain (19:23572) / Rosa (18:20881) / *Yang (17:13893)
Battle Plan
Kain
Run Buffer
Jump
Cecil
Equip Fire (sword)
Inventory Management
Wait for "And you, Cecil!"
Fight
Kain
Fight
Cecil
Fight
Rydia
Cast Fire2

Your primary focus is setting up your inventory for the glitch. By the end of the fight, your inventory should match the following:

↓ Eighth Row ↓
(any)FireClaw x13
FireClaw x151FireClaw x3
IceClaw x99Rod x1
IceClaw x255IceClaw x53
Change x123Paladin x21
Silver x34Paladin x20
Silver x38Paladin x23
Silver x72Paladin x24
Silver x50Paladin x25
Silver x94Paladin x17
Thunder x10Paladin x22
Silver x79Paladin x18
Silver x72Paladin x19
Silver x88Paladin x26
Change x96Change x201
Shadow (shield) x10(empty)
(any)(any)
↑ Bottom of Inventory ↑

Glitch Navigation

After the scenes, immediately cast Warp, do not get the crystal, and then exit the crystal room.

Go left until you reach the Mage Room.

Go left to the trigger tile.

Look down, press A, and pray.

If this works, it will take a few seconds, so give it a bit before you give up.